Cercarial dermatitis in the UK.
'Swimmer's itch' or cercarial dermatitis (CD) results from an immunological reaction to free-swimming non-human schistosome parasites released from aquatic snails. Affected bathers develop a self-limiting, pruritic, macular or papular eruption shortly after leaving the water. The condition is well-recognized in continental Europe, Asia and America, but has not to date been recorded in the UK.
Fraser
S J
SJ
Department of Dermatology, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, UK. susannah099@hotmail.com
Allan
S J R
SJ
Roworth
M
M
Smith
H V
HV
Holme
S A
SA
D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D012551:Schistosomatidae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology; D013550:Swimming