Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Yay Bugs

Several people have complained to employees at the state park that after swimming in the water, they have come down with red, itchy bumps.
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9 comments:

Michelle said...

We've had a few people complain about breaking out in bumps," park Manager Laura Melling said.

The bumps and the itching are part of a natural occurrence caused by larvae in the water.

Deena Loyola, public affairs coordinator with the Utah Parks and Recreation Department, said the naturally occurring phenomenon does cause a rash in some people and typically happens every year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, parasites are released from infected snails into the water and the larvae look for a host bird or mammal. If none is found, the parasite burrows into a swimmer's skin, causing an allergic reaction and rash.

Blodgett said a person's immune system takes care of the invader that causes the itch and it does not create problems unless the person scratches a lot, which can cause an infection. An anti-inflammatory cream or Benadryl, Blodgett said, can help reduce the itching, but there are no real health concerns.

Blodgett said staying away from areas with snails, vegetation or algae in the water helps as well as staying out of the shallow water or avoiding the area with the problem until it goes away.

Melling said the cycle usually lasts about 10 days and the water at the reservoir is tested all the time, so if there were a problem other than larvae, it would be noticed right away.

6:53 PM
Jordan said...

Yeah, I aint scared of no little bugs, unless they are the ones that crawl up places and make things fall off!!! I think we will be fine in the middle of the lake, they say to stay away from the vegetated areas in the shallow water......SURFS UP!!!!

10:10 AM
Whit & Shane said...

im down still!!! bring on the lake.... yeahoooooo
!!!!!!!

11:42 AM
Brooke said...

Like it said in the article. No real heath concerns. WOO HOO! I'm gonna be a wakeboarding foo this weekend!

BRING IT

1:37 PM
Jordan said...

Heck yeah!!!! Everyone reply to my "Biffing" email!!! Lets tell each other the sweet stuff we are going to do on the lake!!!!

4:12 PM
Michelle said...

Ya I'm more concerned with the little people as they would be the ones on the beach in the shallow water most of the time, so we'll prob not go to the lake a ton. Just for my sickly babys :).

8:22 PM
Lorna said...

Michelle, I'll be happy to help with the girls. I am not a skier anyway...you will have fun. I can watch them when you want to go out and vise versa. If it's not too bad on the beach, I can play with them there. That would be a blast for me. :)

12:22 PM
Jordan said...

Yeah Michelle!!!!! That way you can come with us!!!! That would be a blast!!!!!

9:38 AM
Brooke said...

ya michelle, aren't you a wakeboarder???? if not...you are totally missing out!

10:15 AM

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