A one-and-a-half-year-old girl in the Sverdlovsk region contracted cercarial dermatitis, also known as “swimmer’s itch,” after swimming in a river on the territory of a Ural sanatorium. The parasitic disease, caused by the larvae of waterfowl helminths, resulted in a severe itchy rash, red spots, and nodules all over the child’s body.

The rash was particularly severe under the swimsuit and on the child’s hips. While not life-threatening, cercarial dermatitis causes significant discomfort. According to Marina Ufimtseva, chief physician of the Sverdlovsk Dermatovenerological Dispensary, the condition is often mistaken for an allergic reaction, with only severe cases being reported to dermatovenerologists. The dispensary registers several dozen cases per season.

Cercariae, the parasites responsible for swimmer’s itch, are commonly found in shallow, warm backwaters or lakes. Upon contact with water, the larvae penetrate the human skin, triggering an allergic reaction. Symptoms include severe itching, burning and tingling of the skin, small red spots, nodules, and blisters. In some instances, a fever and weakness may also develop.

To avoid contracting cercarial dermatitis, it is advised to refrain from swimming in shallow, grassy areas, swampy lakes and ponds, and areas with a high concentration of ducks and gulls. Doctors recommend wearing tightly fitting swimsuits or swimming trunks and rinsing thoroughly with clean water immediately after exiting the water. Changing out of a wet swimsuit into a dry one can also significantly reduce the risk of developing the condition.

It is important to note that cercarial dermatitis is not transmitted from person to person. Residents are also advised to be aware of a list of Ural reservoirs where swimming is strictly prohibited due to the risk of contracting other dangerous diseases in addition to cercarial dermatitis.