Some swimmers got an unpleasant surprise after taking a dip in the Willow Creek reservoir east of Great Falls recently. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports several people developed a case of "swimmer’s itch", which can be anything from a minor annoyance to a major problem if scratching it leads to a bacterial infection. Mike Henderson with the Lewis and Clark County Health Department explains the itch is caused by a tiny bug present in the water.
"The microscopic mites, you can’t really see them, are larvae from a parasite. They burrow under the skin and they’re going to die under there. The human is not the host they’re looking for. But your body reacts to those being burrowed there, and the reaction can be really uncomfortable."
If you develop swimmer’s itch, Henderson says treating it with an anti-itch cream is the best response. The best way to avoid "the itch" is to limit your swimming to swimming pools with treated water. If you do jump into a lake or reservoir to cool off, a thorough shower afterwards can help remove the mites that cause the itch.