Swimmer's itch life cycle



The life cycle of the schistosome parasite begins when an adult worm living in the blood vessels of a bird or mammal releases eggs into freshwater. The eggs hatch into a free-swimming form called a miracidium, which infects a snail. Inside the snail, the miracidium develops into a form called a sporocyst, which in turn produces another form called a cercaria.

The cercariae are released from the snail into the water, where they can infect birds and mammals, including humans, that come into contact with the infested water. Once inside a host, the cercariae burrow into the skin and mature into adult worms, which then mate and produce eggs that are released into the water to continue the cycle.

Symptoms of swimmer's itch typically appear within a few hours to a day after exposure to infested water and include a red, itchy rash, as well as small bumps or blisters. The rash usually clears up within a week without treatment, but antihistamines and calamine lotion can be used to relieve the itching.

Prevention of swimmer's itch includes avoiding swimming or wading in infested waters, especially in areas where snails are known to be present, and showering as soon as possible after swimming in freshwater.

In conclusion, swimmer's itch is a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to parasites called schistosomes, which have a complex life cycle that starts with eggs released by adult worms living in the blood vessels of birds and mammals, then infects snails, and finally infect humans and other mammals that come into contact with infested water. To prevent swimmer's itch, it is important to avoid swimming or wading in infested waters and shower as soon as possible after swimming in freshwater.

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