Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac  commonly cause skin rashes in children during the spring , summer and fall seasons. An allergic reaction to the oils in the plant causes  the rash. The rash occurs for several hours to  3 days  after contact with the plant. It then begins to form blisters accompanied by the rash.

The belief is that the fluid from the rash causes it to spread. However the spreading occurs   when small amounts of the oil remain under the child’s fingernails, on her clothing  or  a pet’s hair that then comes in contact with other parts of the body. The rash will not spread to another person unless the  oil that remains also come into contact with that person’s skin.

Treatment for Poison Ivy

Treatment for Poison Ivy involves the following :

• Prevention is the best approach. Know how the plant looks like and teach your children to avoid it. Poison ivy grows as a three- leafed green weed with a red stem at the center.
• If there is contact,  wash all clothes and shoes in soap and water. You should also wash the area of the skin that is exposed  with soap and water for at least  10 minutes after the plant or the oil has been touched.
•  If the eruption is mild, use calamine lotion 3 or 4 times a day to cut down on the itching. You should avoid those preparations containing anesthetics or antihistamines, as often they can cause allergic eruptions themselves.
• Apply topical 1% hydrocortisone cream to decrease the inflammation.
•  If the rash on the face or extensive part of the body  is severe, the pediatrician  may need to place the child on oral steroids. These will need to be given for about 6 to 10 days often with the dose tapering in a specific schedule determined by your pediatrician. This treatment should be reserved for the most severe  cases.

Call your pediatrician if you notice the following :

• Severe eruption that is not responsive to the previously described home methods.
• Any evidence of infection  such as blisters, redness or oozing.
• Severe Poison Ivy on the face.
• Fever