DermAtlas: Dermatology Image Swimmer_Itch_1_031127 (swimmer itch

Dermatology - ARM: swimmer itch - cercarial dermatitis

Image Name:

Swimmer_Itch_1_031127

File Type:

jpg

Diagnosis:

SWIMMER ITCH / CERCARIAL DERMATITIS

Category:

reactive erythema /
infections and infestations /
environmental injury

Morphology:

papulosquamous (bump, scale)

Organization:

scattered

Pattern:

symmetric / acral (centripetal - extremity predominant)
sites not clothing covered

Color:

red

Body Site:

arm

Age:

8 years

Gender:

female

Image Year:

2003

Contributor:

Johnell Kolve

First Published:

December 02, 2003

Description:

uniform 2-3 mm red papules

Comments:

This 8-year-old girl developed an itchy eruption comprised of pink and red papules on the arms and legs after swimming in a fresh water pond. Cercarial dermatitis can be distinguished from seabather's eruption which usually involves clothing covered skin where larval members of marine organisms in the phylum Cnidaria (jellyfish, sea anemones,a nd corals) are trapped against the skin.

Related Links:

Dermatologic Disease Database (cercarial dermatitis)

Other Resources:

PubMed: swimmer itch

OMIM: swimmer itch

MedlinePlus: swimmer itch

Archives of Dermatology: swimmer itch

eMedicine: swimmer itch

Dermatology Online: swimmer itch

PubMed: cercarial dermatitis

OMIM: cercarial dermatitis

MedlinePlus: cercarial dermatitis