Nickle Lake has recently experienced an outbreak of swimmer's itch-causing parasites. Swimmer's itch is a mild rash caused by the larvae of certain parasites.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority says swimmer’s itch is caused by parasites getting transported to a non-chlorinated body of water through infected bird or mammal droppings. These parasites come in contact with people and attach themselves to their skin, triggering a reaction.
These parasites, however, cannot survive in the human body. Therefore, the resulting rash typically goes away by itself.
Symptoms of swimmer's itch include a rash, an itching or burning feeling on the skin, and bumps appearing that may turn into blisters. It is not contagious.
Swimmer’s itch typically goes away on its own in about a week, so no treatment is required, but there are ways to help alleviate the itching at home. These include cool compresses on the skin, over the counter anti-itch creams, calamine lotion, and oatmeal baths.
It is important not to scratch the rash as it can cause infection.
You can prevent getting swimmers itch by avoiding bodies of water known to have many outbreaks, and by showering and toweling off quickly after swimming in a lake or pond.