[Cercarial dermatitis of bathers in northern Argentine Patagonia]

The cercarial dermatitis is a zoonotic, summer, skin-disease, caused by a swimming larva (cercaria) of a schistosomatid trematode. This larva accidentally penetrates the skin of people in the water, causing an allergic reaction, which is not always reported in health centers, so it is difficult to determine its incidence. Cases have been registered worldwide, including Argentina, although the epidemiological studies were performed only in the Northern Hemisphere. In this survey the epidemiology of cercarial dermatitis was studied in three Patagonian lakes watering places, Pellegrini, Mari Menuco, and Puelo, where surveys were conducted during summers of 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. The risk factors were analyzed and grouped in "personal characteristics", "use of the recreational resource", and "prevention measures". At the Pellegrini Lake, the people's sensitivity included in "personal characteristics" was the only determining factor for the occurrence of this zoonosis, mean while in Mari Menuco Lake, the bathing time and distance from the coast, and the use of lotions would affect the occurrence of swimmer's itch. In Puelo Lake, no cases were recorded during the study period.