Contamination advisory issued for Crystal Lake Main Beach

A swimmer’s advisory was posted at Crystal Lake Main Beach after the McHenry County Department of Health received reports of swimmer’s itch, the department said in a news release Tuesday.

The McHenry County health department and Crystal Lake Park District, which owns the beach, are monitoring for additional complaints, according to the release.

A swimmer’s advisory has been posted at the beach, which also is known as Lake Park Beach and is located at 300 Lakeshore Drive in Crystal Lake.

Swimmer’s itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, appears as a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites that infect some birds and mammals, according to the release. These parasites are released from infected snails into the water, and if the parasite comes into contact with a swimmer, it burrows into the skin causing an allergic reaction and rash.

Anyone who experiences symptoms of swimmers itch is asked to contact the health department by calling at 815-334-4585 or the beach operator. This advisory will remain posted until no additional complaints are received for at least of 10 days.

Swimmer’s itch is found throughout the world and is more frequent during summer months, the health department said. Swimmer’s itch is not contagious and cannot be spread from one person to another.

Anyone who swims or wades in infested water may be at risk, but children are most often affected because they tend to swim, wade and play in the shallow water near the shoreline where larvae are more likely to be present.

The McHenry County health department recommends towel drying or showering immediately after leaving the water to reduce the likelihood of developing swimmer’s itch.

To treat swimmer’s rash, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends as treatment: using corticosteroid cream; applying cool compresses to the affected areas; bathing in Epsom salts or baking soda; soaking in colloidal oatmeal bath; applying baking soda paste to the rash; or using an anti-itch lotion.

For information about public beach advisories and closures in McHenry County, go to bit.ly/MCDHBeaches.