Symptoms and Prevention of Poison Ivy

Signs and Symptoms of Poistion Ivy Typically, the skin becomes red, itchy, and swollen and blisters will appear. After a few days, the blisters may become crusty and start to flake off. The rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac takes 1 to 2 weeks to heal.

Poison ivy, oak, and sumac cause a rash because of the urushiol they produce. Urushiol is a colorless, odorless oil produced in some plants. 

When to Call the Doctor

Consult your doctor if your child has any kind of rash, especially with a fever. If poison ivy or a similar plant caused the rash, the doctor might recommend cool showers and a soothing lotion, such as calamine lotion.

For more severe cases, doctors sometimes prescribe pills or creams that contain antihistamines or steroids (not the same type of steroids that bodybuilders use) to decrease itching and redness.

Prevention

Poison ivy can grow anywhere — from the woods to suburban backyards. And it's hard to identify: Not only can the green leaves of poison plants blend right in with other plants and brush, but there are several types of poison ivy, and each one can look different depending on the time of year.

Here are some tips to help kids avoid getting a rash from poison ivy:

• Teach them how to identify poison ivy, oak, and sumac, so they can steer clear of them (they should be especially careful of plants if the leaves look shiny).
• Tell them to avoid areas where you know there's poison ivy.
• Have them wear long sleeves and long pants when in areas where poison ivy might grow.
• If your dog has been out exploring the woods, give him a bath to wash off any urushiol oil that may be on his coat.

If your kids come into contact with urushiol oil, have them try to wash it off their skin right away by taking a shower and using lots of soap.

Source: kidshealth.org