Poison Ivy - Oak - Sumac

911 warning

one

Does this describe your child's symptoms?

Click image for more info

Symptoms

Localized redness, swelling, and weeping blisters
Located on exposed body surfaces (such as the hands) or areas touched by the hands (e.g., 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

Return to School

Poison ivy or oak is not contagious to others. No need to miss any school or child care.

two

	Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) 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) You think your child needs to be seen urgently
	Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 am and 4 pm) If
	You think your child needs to be seen, but not urgently 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 Taking oral steroids for over 24 hours and rash becoming worse
	Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
	You have other questions or concerns Rash lasts longer than 3 weeks
	Parent Care at Home If
	Mild poison ivy or sumac and you don't think your child needs to be seen

three

Steroid Cream: Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream (no prescription needed) 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 (no prescription needed) orally every 6 hours as needed (see Dosage table).
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 or other pets.
- Also, 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.
- The fluid from the blisters or rash cannot cause poison ivy.
- No need to miss any school or child care.
Expected Course: Usually lasts 2 weeks. Treatment reduces the severity of symptoms, not how long they last.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Poison ivy lasts for over 3 weeks
- It looks infected
- Your child becomes worse

Updated:

March 22, 2017