Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac
Description / Symptoms
- Localized redness, swelling, and weeping blisters
- Located on exposed body surfaces (such as the hands) or areas touched by the hands (such as the face or genitals)
- May be carried by pets
- Extreme itchiness
- Onset 1 or 2 days after the patient was in a forest or field
- Rash is shaped like streaks or lines.
Cause
Caused by oil from poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac plants.
See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one)
If it doesn't look like poison ivy, see Rashes, Localized
When to Call Your Doctor for Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac
Call Your Doctor Now If:
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- Difficulty breathing or severe coughing following exposure to burning weeds
- Looks infected (e.g., soft yellow scabs, pus or spreading redness)
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours If:
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Swelling is severe (e.g. the eyes are swollen shut)
- Severe poison ivy reaction in the past
- Rash involves more than one fourth of the body
- Face, eyes, lips or genitals are involved
- Severe itching (e.g. can't sleep)
- Big blisters or oozing sores
Call Your Doctor During Weekday Hours If:
- You have other questions or concerns
Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):
Steroid Cream
Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream 4 times per day to reduce itching. Keep the cream in the refrigerator. (Reason: it feels better if applied cold).
Local Cold
Soak the involved area in cool water for 20 minutes or massage it with an ice cube as often as necessary to reduce itching and oozing.
Antihistamines
If itching persists, give Benadryl orally every 6 hours as needed.
Avoid Scratching
Cut the fingernails short and discourage scratching to prevent a secondary infection from bacteria.
More Poison Ivy
If new blisters occur several days after the first ones, your child probably has ongoing contact with poison ivy oil.
To prevent recurrences, bathe all dogs and wash all clothes and shoes that were with your child on the day of exposure.
Contagiousness
Poison ivy or oak is not contagious to others.
Expected Course
Usually lasts 2 weeks. Treatment reduces the severity, not the length.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Poison ivy lasts > 3 weeks
- It looks infected
- Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms
Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright 2000-2006.