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Poison Ivy
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Rhus dermatitis is a type of contact dermatitis caused by the skin developing an allergic reaction to the oil (urushiol) in the leaves of poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. The rash typically occurs within a few hours to days after having contact with these plants, depending on how sensitive you are.
poison ivy plant
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Poison ivy is the most well known plant that can cause contact dermatitis, and it has a characteristic three leaflets with notched edges. It can grow as a shrub or vine in the grass or on trees and it is found throughout the United States. Poison sumac is not as common in the United States, and grows in woody or swampy areas east of the Mississippi River as a shrub or tree with 7-13 paired leaflets and a single leaflet at the end. Poison oak grows a shrub only and is most common in the western United States.
Once the oil from one of these plants comes into contact with the skin, it does not spread and you can not catch poison ivy by touching someone's rash. It is possible for it to spread if the oil remains under your child's nail or on his clothes. You can also have a reaction to the oil of poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac if your pet had contact with the leaves and its fur is contaminated.
The rash usually begins as red bumps and blisters that are very itchy and can last for up to one to three weeks. While the best approach to treatment is educating your children to avoid these plants (see the picture above), if your child does have a reaction there are some steps you can take to make him more comfortable, including:
- Quickly wash any areas of your skin that has come into contact with poison ivy. You have about ten minutes to remove the oil before a reaction will develop. Also wash any clothing that has come into contact with the plants to prevent spreading the oil and scrub under your child's fingernails.
- For mild reactions, you can use calamine lotion, hydrocortizone cream, an oral antihistamine, oatmeal baths and cool soaks.
- More severe reactions will require evaluation by your doctor, who can prescribe an oral steroid or a stronger topical steroid cream. Oral steroids will need to be taken and slowly tapered over two weeks to prevent recurrence of the reaction.
- Carefully remove poison ivy plants when they are found. Avoid burning them, as the smoke can cause a very servere reaction to anyone who is exposed to it.
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