Poison ivy, oak, or sumac poisoning is an allergic reaction that results from touching the sap of these plants. The sap may be on the plant, in the ashes of burned plants, on an animal, or on other objects that came in contact with the plant, such as clothing, garden tools, and sports equipment.

Small amounts of sap can remain under a person's fingernails for several days unless it is deliberately removed with very good cleaning.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Poison oak; Poison sumac; Sumac - poisonous; Oak - poisonous; Ivy - poisonous

One poisonous ingredient is the chemical urushiol.

• Bruised roots, stems, flowers, leaves, fruit
• Pollen of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac

Note: This list may not be all-inclusive.

Images

Poison ivy on the knee

Poison ivy on the leg

Poison oak rash on the arm

Review Date: 10/13/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)