Is "Duck Itch" here yet?

IslandRadio · 05-31-2012, 05:50 AM

Over this past (Memorial Day) weekend, my wife went swimming (brrrrrrrrr) and ended up with what she thinks is "duck itch" on her feet. It seems to me that it is too cold for duck itch, but maybe not.

I haven't actually seen my wife since the weekend !?! as I am staying here on the Island this week to do a bunch of work both here and at a company in Maine, so I personally have not seen what this looks like on her feet. She did go hiking in open sandals over the weekend, and my thought was maybe she brushed by something like poison ivy - but maybe it really is duck itch.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Steve (IslandRadio)

isleofsand · 05-31-2012, 07:24 AM

In my experience as a lifeguard on the lake for 10 years now, the lake water is too cold for duck itch. It usually doesn't start "blooming" until the lake temp hits at least 70. Duck itch is small red dots, poison ivy is typically blotchy. Either way, spread some calamine lotion on the affected areas, take an anti-histamine (if the itching is distracting) and wear closed toed shoes when hiking! Good luck to your wife!

barefootbay · 05-31-2012, 07:19 PM

Poison Ivy would be my guess where it is only her feet.

fatlazyless · 09-05-2012, 01:25 PM

My my my.......itchy itchy itchy....yes, it must be the dreadeded duck itch that I caught while in the shallow water for a couple hours on Monday...and I got it bad...redness....skin eruptions and bubbly looking skin patches....ugh....ugh....ugh....yuuuuuuuuccchhhh.. ...will try to post some up-close photos of my duck itch skin....because a photo is worth a thousand words...scratch....scratch....ouch....pain...pain. ..pain....& misery!

IslandRadio · 09-05-2012, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

My my my.......itchy itchy itchy....yes, it must be the dreadeded duck itch that I caught while in the shallow water for a couple hours on Monday...and I got it bad...redness....skin eruptions and bubbly looking skin patches....ugh....ugh....ugh....yuuuuuuuuccchhhh.. ...will try to post some up-close photos of my duck itch skin....because a photo is worth a thousand words...scratch....scratch....ouch....pain...pain. ..pain....& misery!

Wow, that's really too bad about the itch! Where are you located (or where were you in the water - what part of the lake)? Will definitely watch out.

Sherrie (IslandPrincess) found the soap that is useful for poison ivy helped her quite a bit. She's had duck itch a number of times.

fatlazyless · 09-05-2012, 05:33 PM

To learn a lot about the duck itch or the swimmer's itch, suggest you google "Wikipedia swimmer's itch."

According to Wikipedia, a microscopic waterborne parasite is looking for waterfowl like ducks or geese and will latch onto humans too, and is more common in the shallow water probably because that's where the ducks are more commonly found.

Sandy Island fan · 09-05-2012, 07:36 PM

We have found that application of sunscreen before going in the water, as well as rinsing after being in the water, helps prevent duck itch. Sorry it's too late for you, FLL, but for others, this might help.....

fatlazyless · 09-06-2012, 06:05 PM

My girlfriend, age 47, got a similar horrid case of the duck itch too, as she was in the water in the same area for the same time as me on Monday afternoon. Today is Thursday. One of her arms from the hand to the elbow swelled up from all the duck itch so she saw a medical doctor at the Speare Hospital emergency room in Plymouth today. The doctor there diagnosed it as duck itch and said she had an allergic reaction to it and prescribed pregnozone (spelling?). ........ how about that....and am still working on getting three photos of my own duck itch on leg, arm and on my stomach .....medical style photos taken with a cell phone posted here.....watch out......it's the Lake Winnipesaukee duck itch ........and it is definitely out there.........(theme song from the movie JAWS here) .......

NoBozo · 09-06-2012, 06:26 PM

Based on this FLL report: I will NEVER swim in the lake again.

NB

PS: I HATE Ducks...........and maybe Canada Geese as well....OR is it Loons..I can't Decide..They all POOP..don't they..

Rusty · 09-06-2012, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

My girlfriend, age 47, got a similar horrid case of the duck itch too, as she was in the water in the same area for the same time as me on Monday afternoon. Today is Thursday. One of her arms from the hand to the elbow swelled up from all the duck itch so she saw a medical doctor at the Speare Hospital emergency room in Plymouth today. The doctor there diagnosed it as duck itch and said she had an allergic reaction to it and prescribed pregnozone (spelling?). ........ how about that....and am still working on getting three photos of my own duck itch on leg, arm and on my stomach .....medical style photos taken with a cell phone posted here.....watch out......it's the Lake Winnipesaukee duck itch ........and it is definitely out there.........(theme song from the movie JAWS here) .......

It was probably Prednisone.

This drug can cause some people to become very aggressive or depressed.

Keep your eye on her just in case she gets these side effects.

fatlazyless · 09-07-2012, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

It was probably Prednisone.

p

.....yes, you are correct....it is prednisone and very thankfully it seems to be the antidote to her two swollen hands and arms, and to a much lesser extent, her legs too.

At first we both thought we had poison ivy or poison oak as we had been removing some small oak weed type plants, but it is duck itch or swimmer's itch. We were both in the very shallow water, with lots of motorboat waves constantly rolling in on Monday, Labor Day, and buoy .......oh buoy.......we got that duck itch
bad.......all over except for feet (sneakers w/ socks) and head and neck.

I'm in the water a lot and have had duck itch in the past in very small areas but this was a big, bad, all-over case for me, and for her, and she apparently has an allergy reaction or something to the duck itch causing her arms to swell a lot and her legs a little.

.........duck itch.........bad stuff .....scratch-scratch!

AC2717 · 09-07-2012, 09:27 AM

i read somewhere, on the forum i think, that due to the mild winter, and low water levels this year the level of bacteria is very high this end of the season, vs previous seasons. PLus with the little rain we had areas where water might normally flow freely is not. I am wondering if this is why I have been getting sick the past couple of weeks very frequently with one thig or another. I am going to stay out of the water this weekend and see what happens, or I could be just finally getting over a three week or so colr or flu

GET THESE DAM GEESE OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!

Dave M · 09-07-2012, 11:41 AM

Working on the dock 2 weeks ago. Wore sneakers and had everything covered except legs. Thats where I got it. Didn't go in last weekend, wife did and she got it.

Dave M

NoBozo · 09-07-2012, 02:22 PM

I unfairly indicted the Ducks, Geese, and Loons in my above post. Here is an article splaining this "parasite". It doesn't come from wildfowl poop.

NB

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Itch

PS: I have found the procedure mentioned at the end of the article, (and below) also to be quite effective after encountering jellyfish in salt water. It seems to prevent any reaction to jellyfish stings.

...."periodic brisk toweling of the extremities is effective in preventing Swimmer's Itch".

I do this while still IN the water, and while emerging from the water to Rinse the parisites off the skin before they penetrate.

Newbiesaukee · 09-07-2012, 03:41 PM

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."

ApS · 09-08-2012, 04:25 AM

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."

"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

fatlazyless · 09-09-2012, 06:55 AM

...From the Dept. of Meds for the Uninsured:

Well.....about seven days after getting this miserable duck itch, it is slowly losing its redness and itchiness and slowly healing up. Probably, the worst area is the inside of both my arms from the elbow to the wrist on the inside, and specifically the inside corner of my right elbow. Other areas were stomach, knees to ankles, and one spot on forehead ...... at least it makes me appreciate my good health when I do get a duck itch rash.....Ivarest which is similar to calamine lotion ...... and Pabst Blue Ribbon .....have helped to ease the itchiness pain .....

And......talk about a good find.....the Dollar Tree store next to the Gilford Walmart has 1-oz tubes of 1.0% Hydrocortisone Cream for one dollar.......God bless that Dollar Tree!

ApS · 09-10-2012, 05:06 AM

I have paid as little as $3 for a prescription of Elocon, Aristocort, Hydrocortisone Valerate, Betamethasone Valerate, or Triamcinolone Acetonide. (and may have received free samples). They're available in an ointment or a cream base; for me, ointment works best around water.

At your next checkup, ask your doctor—and hold on to that tube. It appears to work for years following its expiration date.

fatlazyless · 11-29-2012, 06:14 AM

...just google "LRGH Bridging Gap Between Doctor's Office & ER" in today's Nov 29 LaDaSun...

$150 fee for self-pays including cost of any lab work.

"The emergency room is just around the corner."

So's baby-doll, next time we come down with a very bad case of Winnipesaukee duck itch, we will be going to the $150 convenient care clinic at the hospital in Laconia, and be danged sure to stay the H away from the $924 emergency room visit at Speare Hospital in Plymouth. It is goodbye Plymouth ....... and........hello Laconia!

$150 or $924 is a big difference.......like no kidding! One hospital offers medical care at a lower and more affordable price.....and the other hospital offers medical care at an organized crime type of a price!

Belmont Resident · 11-29-2012, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

...just google "LRGH Bridging Gap Between Doctor's Office & ER" in today's Nov 29 LaDaSun...

$150 fee for self-pays including cost of any lab work.

"The emergency room is just around the corner."

So's baby-doll, next time we come down with a very bad case of Winnipesaukee duck itch, we will be going to the $150 convenient care clinic at the hospital in Laconia, and be danged sure to stay the H away from the $924 emergency room visit at Speare Hospital in Plymouth. It is goodbye Plymouth ....... and........hello Laconia!

$150 or $924 is a big difference.......like no kidding! One hospital offers medical care at a lower and more affordable price.....and the other hospital offers medical care at an organized crime type of a price!

Or it could be a sign of just how bad the Laconia area is becoming.
Build a brand new hospital in a community that is going down the tubes and eventually will rely solely on summer tourism and the elderly retired who are moving up here to their 2nd homes.
Oh and we can't forget about the sleezballs who steal from Lowes then brag about it on a local forum.

fatlazyless · 11-29-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belmont Resident

Oh and we can't forget about the sleezballs who steal from Lowes then brag about it on a local forum.

...you know....you can say and think what you want....it's your private thoughts....but I have become a pretty good steady customer at the Gilford-Lowe's....and that is partially because they offer their 90-day, easy returns policy....having purchased some bigger items like a snow-blower, power-washer, refrigerator, kitchen stove, paint, perennials, mmasonry blocks, cement mix, landscape timbers, top soil, & mulch....which just shows-to-go their easy returns dept is a good business builder for folks like me! ....thankyou very much & good knight! ...

upthesaukee · 11-29-2012, 08:35 AM

Belmont Resident · 11-29-2012, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

I agree but after his post about Lowes I just couldn't resist.
I apologize

upthesaukee · 11-29-2012, 09:14 AM

...now back to the more enjoyable subject of suffering with Duck Itch

Belmont Resident · 11-29-2012, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

...now back to the more enjoyable subject of suffering with Duck Itch

In all my years boating on the lake I have never ever had it.

05-31-2012, 05:50 AM	#1
IslandRadio Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mirror Lake - Full time resident Posts: 398 Thanks: 70 Thanked 156 Times in 61 Posts	Is "Duck Itch" here yet? Over this past (Memorial Day) weekend, my wife went swimming (brrrrrrrrr) and ended up with what she thinks is "duck itch" on her feet. It seems to me that it is too cold for duck itch, but maybe not. I haven't actually seen my wife since the weekend !?! as I am staying here on the Island this week to do a bunch of work both here and at a company in Maine, so I personally have not seen what this looks like on her feet. She did go hiking in open sandals over the weekend, and my thought was maybe she brushed by something like poison ivy - but maybe it really is duck itch. Any ideas? Thanks Steve (IslandRadio)

05-31-2012, 07:24 AM	#2
isleofsand Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tuftonboro, NH & Sandy Island Posts: 10 Thanks: 14 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Probably not duck itch In my experience as a lifeguard on the lake for 10 years now, the lake water is too cold for duck itch. It usually doesn't start "blooming" until the lake temp hits at least 70. Duck itch is small red dots, poison ivy is typically blotchy. Either way, spread some calamine lotion on the affected areas, take an anti-histamine (if the itching is distracting) and wear closed toed shoes when hiking! Good luck to your wife! __________________ I love my island! (My name is Sandi and no, I am not named after the island...)

09-05-2012, 01:25 PM	#4
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,555 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 297 Thanked 958 Times in 699 Posts	My my my.......itchy itchy itchy....yes, it must be the dreadeded duck itch that I caught while in the shallow water for a couple hours on Monday...and I got it bad...redness....skin eruptions and bubbly looking skin patches....ugh....ugh....ugh....yuuuuuuuuccchhhh.. ...will try to post some up-close photos of my duck itch skin....because a photo is worth a thousand words...scratch....scratch....ouch....pain...pain. ..pain....& misery! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

09-05-2012, 05:33 PM	#6
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,555 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 297 Thanked 958 Times in 699 Posts	To learn a lot about the duck itch or the swimmer's itch, suggest you google "Wikipedia swimmer's itch." According to Wikipedia, a microscopic waterborne parasite is looking for waterfowl like ducks or geese and will latch onto humans too, and is more common in the shallow water probably because that's where the ducks are more commonly found. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 10-16-2012 at 06:18 AM.

09-05-2012, 07:36 PM	#7
Sandy Island fan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 64 Thanks: 81 Thanked 32 Times in 21 Posts	prevention We have found that application of sunscreen before going in the water, as well as rinsing after being in the water, helps prevent duck itch. Sorry it's too late for you, FLL, but for others, this might help.....

05-31-2012, 07:19 PM	#3
barefootbay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 367 Thanks: 66 Thanked 89 Times in 64 Posts	Poison Ivy would be my guess where it is only her feet.

09-06-2012, 06:05 PM	#8
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,555 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 297 Thanked 958 Times in 699 Posts	...pregnozone! .. (spelling?) My girlfriend, age 47, got a similar horrid case of the duck itch too, as she was in the water in the same area for the same time as me on Monday afternoon. Today is Thursday. One of her arms from the hand to the elbow swelled up from all the duck itch so she saw a medical doctor at the Speare Hospital emergency room in Plymouth today. The doctor there diagnosed it as duck itch and said she had an allergic reaction to it and prescribed pregnozone (spelling?). ........ how about that....and am still working on getting three photos of my own duck itch on leg, arm and on my stomach .....medical style photos taken with a cell phone posted here.....watch out......it's the Lake Winnipesaukee duck itch ........and it is definitely out there.........(theme song from the movie JAWS here) ....... __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

09-06-2012, 06:26 PM	#9
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Based on this FLL report: I will NEVER swim in the lake again. NB PS: I HATE Ducks...........and maybe Canada Geese as well....OR is it Loons..I can't Decide..They all POOP..don't they..

09-07-2012, 09:27 AM	#12
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,524 Thanks: 747 Thanked 345 Times in 258 Posts	i read somewhere, on the forum i think, that due to the mild winter, and low water levels this year the level of bacteria is very high this end of the season, vs previous seasons. PLus with the little rain we had areas where water might normally flow freely is not. I am wondering if this is why I have been getting sick the past couple of weeks very frequently with one thig or another. I am going to stay out of the water this weekend and see what happens, or I could be just finally getting over a three week or so colr or flu GET THESE DAM GEESE OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!! __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

09-07-2012, 11:41 AM	#13
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Had it to Working on the dock 2 weeks ago. Wore sneakers and had everything covered except legs. Thats where I got it. Didn't go in last weekend, wife did and she got it. Dave M

09-07-2012, 02:22 PM	#14
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	The Real "Duck Itch" I unfairly indicted the Ducks, Geese, and Loons in my above post. Here is an article splaining this "parasite". It doesn't come from wildfowl poop. NB http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Itch PS: I have found the procedure mentioned at the end of the article, (and below) also to be quite effective after encountering jellyfish in salt water. It seems to prevent any reaction to jellyfish stings. ...."periodic brisk toweling of the extremities is effective in preventing Swimmer's Itch". I do this while still IN the water, and while emerging from the water to Rinse the parisites off the skin before they penetrate.

09-07-2012, 03:41 PM	#15
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,350 Thanks: 925 Thanked 569 Times in 295 Posts	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." __________________ "You're only young once, but you can be immature forever."

09-09-2012, 06:55 AM	#17
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,555 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 297 Thanked 958 Times in 699 Posts	...From the Dept. of Meds for the Uninsured: Well.....about seven days after getting this miserable duck itch, it is slowly losing its redness and itchiness and slowly healing up. Probably, the worst area is the inside of both my arms from the elbow to the wrist on the inside, and specifically the inside corner of my right elbow. Other areas were stomach, knees to ankles, and one spot on forehead ...... at least it makes me appreciate my good health when I do get a duck itch rash.....Ivarest which is similar to calamine lotion ...... and Pabst Blue Ribbon .....have helped to ease the itchiness pain ..... And......talk about a good find.....the Dollar Tree store next to the Gilford Walmart has 1-oz tubes of 1.0% Hydrocortisone Cream for one dollar.......God bless that Dollar Tree! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 09-09-2012 at 03:47 PM.

09-10-2012, 05:06 AM	#18
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,807 Thanks: 2,098 Thanked 749 Times in 536 Posts	I have paid as little as $3 for a prescription of Elocon, Aristocort, Hydrocortisone Valerate, Betamethasone Valerate, or Triamcinolone Acetonide. (and may have received free samples). They're available in an ointment or a cream base; for me, ointment works best around water. At your next checkup, ask your doctor—and hold on to that tube. It appears to work for years following its expiration date.

11-29-2012, 06:14 AM	#19
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,555 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 297 Thanked 958 Times in 699 Posts	...Nov 29-Lakes Region Gen Hospital Bridging Gap between... ...just google "LRGH Bridging Gap Between Doctor's Office & ER" in today's Nov 29 LaDaSun... $150 fee for self-pays including cost of any lab work. "The emergency room is just around the corner." So's baby-doll, next time we come down with a very bad case of Winnipesaukee duck itch, we will be going to the $150 convenient care clinic at the hospital in Laconia, and be danged sure to stay the H away from the $924 emergency room visit at Speare Hospital in Plymouth. It is goodbye Plymouth ....... and........hello Laconia! $150 or $924 is a big difference.......like no kidding! One hospital offers medical care at a lower and more affordable price.....and the other hospital offers medical care at an organized crime type of a price! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

11-29-2012, 08:35 AM	#22
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,559 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,411 Thanked 1,922 Times in 1,064 Posts	Off topic BR and FLL __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

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11-29-2012, 09:14 AM	#24
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,559 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,411 Thanked 1,922 Times in 1,064 Posts	I understand ...now back to the more enjoyable subject of suffering with Duck Itch __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!