Poison Ivy Symptoms and Treatments

Poison Ivy is both a plant and a term used to describe the itching rash that it causes. Poison Ivy is leafed plant that everyone, especially small children, should be able to identify on sight. Poison Ivy yields an irritating oil called, urushiol, that is present in all parts of the plant. The urushiol in Poison Ivy causes an allergic reaction when any part of the plant is touched. Over half of all people are sensitive to it to a degree and some unfortunate people are hypersensitive to the chemical contained in Poison Ivy. Continue reading to learn more about Poison Ivy and how Poison Ivy can be treated to relieve itching.

SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms of Poison Ivy will usu sally appear within 24 to 48 hours of exposure and can last as long as three weeks. In severe cases new areas of rash can break out several days or even more after the initial contact. It can easily seem that the rash is spreading through itching but more likely it's due to the rate that the urishiol is absorbed through the skin. It will be absorbed fastest where the skin is thinest. Scratching is not the cause of the Poison Ivy spreading but you should try to avoid scratching to avoid secondary infection. Affected areas will redden and become swollen and itch. There may be blisters on the skin as well. In the most severe cases, Poison Ivy can cause headache and nausea, dizziness or a fever. The itching feeling can be intense to the point where the affected person will feel miserable.

The Poison Ivy rash is not contagious. You can't get Poison Ivy from another person unless you've had direct contact with the urishiol oil on that person.

CAUSES
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac are all related plants that contain the chemical urishiol and will result in a rash after contact.

Poison Ivy plants vary a good deal in shape and color depending on area and time of year. Poison Ivy is found all over the eastern and central U.S. It can appear as a small bush, a shrub, or a plant. Typically Poison Ivy in all forms grows three leaves to a stem. The leaves can be of any shape or color. Some types of Poison Ivy can produce small white berries or green flowers.

Poison Oak leaves resemble the leaves of Oak trees and also typically grows three leaves on each stem. Poison Oak is mostly found west of the Rocky Mountains. It grows as a low plant or small bush.

Poison Sumac does not have the traditional three leaves per stem. Poison Sumac grows as bush, plant, or small tree, but has two distinct rows of leaves, one row on each side of the stem and always one additional leaf at the tip if the stem. It's leaves also have smooth edges. Non-poisonous Sumac leaves have jagged edges. Poison Sumac is abundant in the Midwest and especially in the Mississippi River Valley. But be aware that with all three varieties of poisonous plants there is a lot of geographical overlap.

The poisonous chemical in these plants, urishiol, is very, very sticky and does not dry out. If you bring it into your house on a shirt, chances are good that the urishiol will remain active and poisonous even years later. You can get a Poison Ivy rash by direct contact with the plant, by touching objects (like shoes or coats or pants) that have urishiol on them, or by inhaling the smoke from the burning plant. The oil in the smoke can do serious damage to the eyes and nasal passages.

TREATMENT
There is no cure for Poison Ivy but there are treatments to relieve the itching somewhat. The effectiveness of the treatments will vary from person to person. You can sometimes limit the symptoms of Poison Ivy if you wash the affected area immediately with soap and cool water. Don't use warm water, it can cause the urushiol oil to penetrate the skin faster.

As soon as possible, take everything that could possibly have urishiol on it and wash it with very hot water and a strong laundry detergent. Give your pet a bath wearing rubber gloves if necessary if you think it's in their fur. The best treatment is time, one to three weeks. Try not to scratch as this will irritate the rash further and may introduce infection.

Calamine lotion, Zinc oxide ointment, Caladryl Clear, Itch-X , or soaking in an oatmeal bath to try to relieve the itching symptoms may help. You could also try taking an over-the-counter antihistamine.

WHEN TO GO TO THE DOCTOR
My wife recently had one of the most severe cases of Poison Ivy her doctor had ever seen. It was everywhere on her body within 48 hours and new spots kept breaking out four, five, six, days after the initial contact. It was so bad she was not allowed to work. Anti-histamines helped a little bit, but most effective in relieving the itching for her was in fact calamine lotion. Lots and lots of it.

She was absolutely miserable for three weeks and got little sleep. She went to the doctor because her rashes were so sever and widespread. And it was the right decision. Other indications that it would be time to see a doctor are: The rash is affecting sensitive areas of your body, such as your eyes, mouth or genitals; there are blisters that are are oozing pus; you have a sustained fever of more than than 100 F. Or, go if you feel the need.

PREVENTION
Recognizing these poisonous plants is the key to prevention. There are photos of all three plants with this article.

Resources
http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/medical.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/poison-ivy/DS00774/DSECTION=when%2Dto%2Dseek%2Dmedical%2Dadvice
http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/medical.html
http://www.healthy-skin-guide.com/poison-ivy-symptoms.html