About this episode
Contributor: John Winkler, MD Educational Pearls: Swimmers itch is due to a flatworm parasitic infection that causes an itchy rash after the worm burrows into the skin The flatworm is passed between bird and snail hosts The itch is due to the death of the parasite under the skin which leads to an extremely itchy reaction. The rash can be difficult to identify, often erythematous and macular but can develop papules and vesicles eventually scaling The treatment is diphenhydramine for milder cases and steroids for more severe cases. References Kolářová L, Horák P, Skírnisson K, Marečková H, Doenhoff M. Cercarial dermatitis, a neglected allergic disease. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2013 Aug;45(1):63-74. doi: 10.1007/s12016-012-8334-y. PMID: 22915284 Summarized by Jackson Roos, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that we are now offering AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ via online course modules. To access these and for more information, visit our website at www.emergencymedicalminute.com/cme-courses/ and create an account.