Lake Water Allergies

The Dangers of Lake Water Allergies

When the weather gets warm many people go to the lake to have a swim and enjoy the fresh air, sandy beach and cool clear water. The only concern is the possibility that you will have lake water allergies and not realize it until it is too late. Another name of this type of allergy is swimmer’s itch. It does not mean you are necessarily swimming in a dirty lake. It need not be water that has been contaminated by industrial waste only that the birds and other animals that live by the lake make be causing certain things to wind up in the water.

The common causes of these allergies are the parasites that birds and other animals carry. The signs of this allergy include a tingling, itching or burning feeling that occurs within a few hours of having been in the lake. The skin may then redden eventually, turning into a rash-like area which may then develop into blisters. This usually occurs within twelve hours of having swum in a lake. Left untreated this can last for up to two weeks. Treated with a good anti allergy cream and the blisters should be gone within a few days.

Some people may find that the symptoms they develop are more serious that just pimples and blisters. They can react badly enough to the contaminants in the lake that they develop breathing problems, fevers or lesions on the skin. If this happens then the form of lake water allergies being dealt with requires an immediate visit to your health care provider or the emergency unit of your local hospital.