For families wanting to get in some last-minute adventures outdoors this summer and fall, it is important to be cautious of poison ivy and other poisonous plants. Poison ivy is a year-round threat that is common in the Midwest.
There isn’t a year that goes by that we don’t see patients coming in because of poison ivy. While it can be treated at home, severe cases may necessitate a visit to the doctor. Symptoms include itching, redness, swelling and blisters. Blisters can appear in a straight line or be wide-spread depending on how you come in contact with the plant. Symptoms can last up to two to three weeks.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), poison ivy is contracted through direct contact with the plant and the oily sticky substance that is located in the plants leaves, stem and roots. This substance has the ability to stick to skin, clothing, pet fur and many other objects that come in contact with the substance. Once an object has come in contact with poison ivy, it can be contagious for up to two to three weeks. Though the rash itself is not contagious, if a person still has the urushiol substance on their rash or skin, then the poison could be spread.
Being able to identify the poison ivy plant is important in reducing the likelihood of coming into contact with its poison. Poison Ivy is a three-leaf weed that grows as vines, a free standing plant, or a shrubby thicket reaching 5 to 10 feet in height. While poison ivy is the most common poisonous plant in Indiana, other dangerous plants include poison oak and poison sumac.
I often find that people tend to come into contact with poison ivy while gardening and clearing weeds. The FDA reports that the plant is typically found in wooded areas, especially along edges where the tree line breaks and allows sunshine to filter through. It also grows in exposed rocky areas, open fields and disturbed areas.
As a doctor, I am often asked when to seek treatment for poison ivy. The most important thing to do as soon as you believe you have come into contact with poison ivy is to wash the affected area. This can greatly reduce or eliminate the potential outbreak. If you don’t realize you came into contact with the plant, then it is important to treat the rash quickly. Applying an over-the-counter cream can help with symptoms.
Poison ivy often starts on the hands and then spreads when the oil is not washed off. Washing your hands after coming in from the outdoors is often the most important method of prevention. If the rash spreads to the genitals or face, results in a fever over 100 degrees, or symptoms do not go away in two to three weeks, then seeking medical assistance is warranted. In severe cases, an oral corticosteroid would most likely be prescribed.
Another important factor to keep in mind is some people are more prone to having a reaction than others. In fact, data shows that around 15 to 30 percent of people have no allergic reaction to the plant. In addition, most people will become desensitized with repeated or more concentrated exposure to the plant.
Nydia Estrada-Nunez, M.D.
Family Medicine
Wishard-Eskenazi Health