Poison ivy - oak - sumac

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Poison oak rash on the arm

Poison ivy on the knee

Poison ivy on the leg

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Poison ivy - oak - sumac

Home Treatment:

Wash the area immediately with soap and water. Prompt washing can prevent a reaction, but is of little help more than 1 hour after exposure. Isolate and carefully wash any contaminated objects or clothing in hot soapy water.

An antihistamine cream or steroid cream may help with the itching. An oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl, may relieve some of the itching.

Before Calling Emergency:

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Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the plant
The amount swallowed (if swallowed)

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

Call or see your health care provider for advice about visiting the emergency room. See poison control centers for the national telephone number. Unless the reaction is severe, the individual will probably not need to visit the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Treatment you may receive in the emergency room includes:

Washing the affected areas
Applying an antihistamine or steroid cream
Giving oral antihistamines or steroids

Note: Some or all of these procedures may be performed.

Expectations (prognosis):

Life-threatening reactions may occur if the poisonous ingredients are ingested or inhaled (such as from burning plants). However, typical skin exposures resolve without any long-term problems. A secondary skin infection may develop if the exposed areas are not kept clean.