Definition

Noun: A skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites (cercariae) that burrow into the skin. These parasites are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water. The rash typically appears after swimming or wading in infested water.

Usage

This is a medical/biological term used to describe a specific skin condition. * It is commonly used in public health warnings, medical diagnoses, and casual descriptions of an unpleasant experience after swimming. * It is often preceded by verbs like have, get, catch, or develop. * It is a non-count noun; you do not typically say "a swimmer's itch" or "swimmer's itches."

Examples

• The lake was closed due to an outbreak of swimmer's itch.
• I think I have swimmer's itch; my legs are covered in red, itchy bumps.
• To prevent swimmer's itch, towel off vigorously immediately after leaving the water.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) before other nouns.
  • Example: The swimmer's itch parasite has a complex life cycle.
• In formal medical contexts, the synonymous term is often preferred.

Variants and Related Words

• Cercarial Dermatitis (n): The formal medical term for swimmer's itch.
• Schistosome Cercariae (n): The specific larval parasites that cause the condition.

Synonyms

• Cercarial dermatitis
• Lake itch
• Duck itch

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To come down with swimmer's itch: To begin to show symptoms of the condition.
  • Example: Half the camp came down with swimmer's itch after swimming in the pond.

Noun

1. a sensitization reaction to repeated invasion of the skin by cercariae of schistosomes