Many persons expressed confusion and fear that they had contracted a communicable disease, such as venereal disease, chickenpox, or measles. Periodic outbreaks have existed before this decade, and it is possible that this form of dermatitis has been around for centuries. Fishermen have long been acquainted with it, affirming reports in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Caribbean islands. A Bahamian old wives' tale specifically warns against ocean swimming between Mother's Day and Father's Day yearly. This popular term persisted, despite efforts by scientists to discourage use of such an inappropriate designation.
Sea lice are actually small parasites that affect fish.
Beach goers sought their own remedies for the seasonal itchy rash. Folk remedies included the use of garlic, athletes foot spray, lemon, hydrogen peroxide, witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, spray starch, Epsom salts, and meat tenderizer. Unorthodox attempts to obtain relief included fingernail polish, undiluted bleach, ammonia, gasoline and turpentine. These are especially notable because they were used on extremely sensitive areas of people's bodies. When marine biologists at the University of Miami analyzed water samples collected during the periods when complaints of bathers increased, large numbers of cnidarian larvae were noted.