Quote:
Originally Posted by Newbiesaukee
Actually, it can come from duck feces even though the organism that causes it is a parasite. These life-cycles can be very confusing and the Wikipedia article could be better written. Besides, it would sound worse if we called it "snail itch."
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"Duck (or
'Snail') Itch" seems to only affect the legs and ankles. Toweling-off definitely helps, but swimming in deep water discourages the affliction. (Onshore wind concentrates the nasty micro-critters in the shallows).
Snail "browse" (food=
algae) is encouraged by Phosphorus and the Nitrates that are being increasingly introduced into the lake. (Compounds found in lawn fertilizers).
When I polled my fellow Winnipesaukee summer campers—from "yesteryear"
—
none could remember having "Duck Itch".
Quick relief can be found with a doctor's prescription to 0.1%
Triamcinolone Acetonide. (Also known under various trade names that can include the suffix, "cort"). 0.1%
Triamcinolone Acetonide is to be used sparingly, and applying a teeny-tiny amount gives near-instant relief to Duck Itch and similar "bites"; astonishingly, just
one application may be enough.
More on the "Duck Itch" topic here:
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=7985