These suggestions may have helped others:
- Parasites are most active early in the day, so swim later
- Parasites are more concentrated in shallow water
- Onshore wind may concentrate the parasites
- Sun block lotion may help prevent skin penetration
- Vigorous toweling may help
Because swimmer’s itch is caused by an allergic reaction to the parasite, the greater the number of exposures to the parasite, the more intense and immediate symptoms of swimmer’s itch may occur. Larvae are more likely to be present in shallow water by the shoreline, especially in the morning and when there is an onshore wind. Children are most often affected because they tend to swim, wade, and play in the shallow water more than adults. Also, they are less likely to towel dry themselves when leaving the water.