CERCARIAN DERMATITIS

During a period of two weeks in hot dry midsummer 3 patients presented in our pediatric outpatient clinic after a bath in a small lake. They had an extremely itching, elevated exanthema mainly on their legs. Th e single efflorescence had a diameter of about 1-3 cm. There were no s igns of infection or fever. The patients history, clinic and skin lesi ons made us think of swimmer's itch caused by leeches (trematoda), cer cariae of the trichobilharcia type. We prooved it serologically. Trich obilharcia scidati and trichobilharzia ocellata are certain avian schi stosomatidae. In periods of dry and hot weather the number of cercaria e raises in lakes. They penetrate the skin but cannot develop any furt her and cause as an allergic response a very itchy exanthema, which la sts for up to 20 days. Treatment is symptomatic and consists of antihi stamine-gels. Discussion: Prevention of the disease is difficult. Reex posed persons could react stronger, therefore they should avoid swimmi ng in those lakes.