Sea Lice in Eastern Seaboard Ocean

 Excerpts
OCEAN CITY, MD — Swimmers at Ocean City beaches have been plagued by sea lice this week. The pests are actually the larvae of jellyfish and carry a sting. Which is awful timing when this weekend's forecast calls for sunny skies and highs in the low 80s at the Eastern Shore.
The water infestation isn't limited to Ocean City, said the town's beach patrol on Facebook Thursday. "The Eastern Seaboard is experiencing this nature phenomenon. Sea lice is really larvae. They can get into bathing suits while swimming and cause discomfort. Our best advice is to rinse with fresh water," the patrol said.

 Like mature jellyfish the larvae are covered in cells that contain toxin-filled harpoons ready to launch into human skin. When the larvae find themselves caught in an armpit or under a swimsuit, their harpoon-shooting cells are activated, National Geographic says. Toweling off only makes it worse, so showering off in fresh water is the best response, other than staying out of the water altogether when the larvae are present.

 Reactions to the larvae stings include fever, headache, nausea, and infected blisters. Children can also develop high fevers.
Itching and skin irritation can be treated with an over-the-counter 1% cortisone skin cream, according to the Florida Department of Health, and an oral antihistamine like Benadryl may help, as well. If these remedies don't help within a few days, call your primary care physician or dermatologist.

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