Last August, I caught a bad case of the duck itch on my legs and arms and it was very itchy and took about two weeks for it to clear up. Tried a number a different over-the-counter remedies similar to treating poison ivy. It seems that unless one has had a bad case oneself, then one cannot really appreciate how itchy and irritating the duck itch can be; ......duck itch....very bad....indeed!....oh yes....oh no ...oh yes ...very very very itchy ... !
My girlfriend got it too, and had both her arms and hands swell up so bad that she ended up at the Spear Hospital ER in Plymouth and an rx for Prednisone and a $900+ ER room bill....ouch! If that happened again this summer, we sure as heck will not be going back to Spear now that the LRGH in Laconia has
http://www.lrgh.org/programs-services/convenience-care at something like $100.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimmer's_itch includes a photo of duck itch red spots on lower legs.
"Within hours, these spots become raised papules which are intensely itchy. Each spot corresponds to the penetration site of a single parasite."
If Lake Winnipesaukee translates to 'The smile of the great spirit' then the Lake Winnipesaukee duck itch could be "The groan of the great spirit!"; arrrrggggghhhhhhhh .....omg ...omg ...omg...oh no or "The revenge of the great spirit!" ... aka ... Lake Winni's Revenge!