Rashes—Parasitic Diseases

Parasites are living things that use other living things – like your body – for food and a place to live. You can get them from contaminated food or water, a bug bite, or sexual contact. Some parasitic diseases are easily treated and some are not.

Parasites range in size from tiny, one-celled organisms called protozoa to worms that can be seen with the naked eye. Some parasitic diseases occur in the United States. Contaminated water supplies can lead to Giardia infections. Cats can transmit toxoplasmosis, which is dangerous for pregnant women. Others, like malaria, are common in other parts of the world.

If you are traveling, it’s important to drink only water you know is safe. Prevention is especially important. There are no vaccines for parasitic diseases. Some medicines are available to treat parasitic infections.

• Amebiasis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Amebic liver abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Ascariasis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Creeping eruption (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Stool ova and parasites exam (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Taeniasis (Medical Encyclopedia)

Also called: Dermatitis, Skin rash

A rash is an area of irritated or swollen skin. Many rashes are itchy, red, painful, and irritated. Some rashes can also lead to blisters or patches of raw skin. Rashes are a symptom of many different medical problems. Other causes include irritating substances and allergies. Certain genes can make people more likely to get rashes.

Contact dermatitis is a common type of rash. It causes redness, itching, and sometimes small bumps. You get the rash where you have touched an irritant, such as a chemical, or something you are allergic to, like poison ivy.

Some rashes develop right away. Others form over several days. Although most rashes clear up fairly quickly, others are long-lasting and need long-term treatment.

Because rashes can be caused by many different things, it’s important to figure out what kind you have before you treat it. If it is a bad rash, if it does not go away, or if you have other symptoms, you should see your health care provider. Treatments may include moisturizers, lotions, baths, cortisone creams that relieve swelling, and antihistamines, which relieve itching.

• “Hot Tub Rash” and “Swimmer’s Ear” (Pseudomonas) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• Contact dermatitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Diaper rash (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Hot tub folliculitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pityriasis rosea (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Rash – child under 2 years (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Rashes (Medical Encyclopedia)