Test Your Knowledge

There are several steps that people can take to reduce their risk of developing swimmer itch. These include:

• Avoid swimming in bodies of water that have been identified as problem spots for swimmer itch. Avoiding the water is the most effective prevention method. Some areas post signs on the shoreline warning of unsafe water. Individuals who choose to enter the water should swim from a raft or boat farther out from the shore when possible. Since parasite larvae are especially likely to be present in shallow water by the shoreline, those who swim at a distance far from the shore are less likely to come into contact with the larvae.
  
  
• Do not swim or wade in marshy areas where snails are often found
  
  
• Rinse exposed skin with fresh water after swimming or wading. Vigorously dry the skin with a towel.
  
  
• Do not attract birds to areas – such as by feeding them – where people are known to swim.