Most children tend to be allergic to poison ivy plants. If your child comes in contact with any part of the poison ivy plant, they might develop a rash, which starts with redness and itching. Rashes and tiny fluid-filled blisters appear on the affected area when the reaction is severe.
This post discusses the effect of poison ivy on children.
What Does A Poison Ivy Plant Look Like?
Poison ivy is found in many parts of the US and is said to be one of the leading causes for contact dermatitis. The plant grows like a vine or as a shrub along the ground or by climbing other plants. It does not grow in Alaska, Hawaii, and some parts of the western US (1).
The plant has distinctive trifoliate leaves, each with three leaflets and each leaflet with a serrated edge. The leaf surface is smooth and turns red during fall while staying green in other seasons. Poison ivy produces green or off-white fruits during fall. This plant also develops thin, hair-like aerial roots, which may help identify it. It is risky to touch any part of the plant in any season.
Why Does Poison Ivy Cause A Rash?
The allergic reaction is due to an oil called urushiol that is found throughout the plant. If the skin comes in contact with any part of the plant, leaves, stem, or the sap oozing from a broken twig, the urushiol is absorbed into the child’s skin. The immune system detects the oil and mounts a response that leads to an allergic reaction, which is known as urushiol-induced contact dermatitis.
The time taken for a rash to appear could vary depending on several factors, including the child’s sensitivity towards poison ivy and the amount of urushiol absorbed. Usually, the first symptoms appear within 24 to 48 hours after contact with poison ivy (2).
Is Poison Ivy Rash Contagious?
No, poison ivy rash cannot spread from one person to another. The rash only appears on the skin that came in contact with urushiol. The fluid from broken blisters or rashes does not spread the rash to other parts of the body (1).
However, there are other ways through which the allergic skin reaction can spread.
- The rash itself cannot spread to other body parts. However, if the child does not wash hands after touching poison ivy and touches other parts of the body, then the oil might spread and cause a reaction.
- If your pet comes in contact with the poison ivy plant, and the child touches the pet, then the child might be exposed to the oil and get the allergic reaction.
- Contaminated clothes, shoes, or other objects that came in contact with the plant can spread the oil to the rest of the body and other people.
Signs and Symptoms Of Poison Ivy Rash On Children
If you suspect a poison ivy rash on your child’s skin, then look for these symptoms.
- Redness and swelling of the exposed area
- Severe itching
- Small bumps that turn into blisters
- Fluid-filled blisters in multiple streak-like arrangements
- Eruption of blisters
In a week or two, the blisters would crust over and fall. In mild and medium cases, this allergic reaction can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) creams to ease the swelling and itching.
When To Take Your Child To The Doctor?
Take your child to a doctor if you notice signs of severe allergy, such as (3):
- Shortness of breath
- Rash affecting the face, eyes, or genitals
- Rashes appearing on several parts of the body
- Pus oozing from a blister, indicating an infection
- Rashes lasting more than three weeks
The severe symptoms of the allergy are usually seen four to seven days after exposure to urushiol.
Your doctor would do a physical examination to diagnose poison ivy rash; they may also enquire about any other symptoms and medical history of your child.
Treatment For Poison Ivy Rash
Once your child gets in contact with the allergy-causing oil, it will start to penetrate the skin rapidly, so care should be taken to remove it from the skin, ideally within ten minutes (2).
- Wash the affected area thoroughly with a mild soap.
- Remove your child’s clothes to prevent the spreading of the infection from any remains of the oil.
- If your child has touched any clothes, then remove all the contaminated clothing and gear.
- Apply a cold compress on the affected area to soothe the itching and swelling.
- Apply calamine lotion or a corticosteroid cream to ease the itching.
Your child’s doctor may prescribe corticosteroid creams or other ointments specifically meant for urushiol-induced contact dermatitis. Infected blisters may require treatment with antibiotics.
Home Remedies For Poison Ivy Rash
Along with the OTC medications, you can follow some safe home remedies to soothe the itching. However, do note that these remedies are based on anecdotal evidence. Therefore, it is advised to try them after consulting a doctor.
- Peppermint oil: The topical application of peppermint oil is said to provide relief from itchy blisters (4). Make sure your child is not allergic to such essential oils.
- Menthol: Studies suggest that menthol in the concentration of 1 to 3% could relieve itching (5).
- Aloe vera gel: Extract fresh aloe vera gel and apply it on the rashes, let it remain for ten minutes (6). Its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties are said to help.
- Oatmeal: Giving frequent baths with colloidal oatmeal may relieve the symptoms of poison ivy rashes (2).
- Apple cider vinegar: It has been anecdotally used as a treatment for poison ivy symptoms. Dilute a few drops of apple cider vinegar in water and apply it on the rashes, leave it for ten minutes and rinse with water (7).
If any of the home remedies cause pain, discomfort, or intensify the itching, then stop using them immediately. If your child has a history of allergies, then avoid home remedies and see a doctor.
Prevention Of Poison Ivy Reaction
The best way to prevent poison ivy rash is to avoid contact with the plant. The following preventive tips can be helpful.
- Help your child identify a poison ivy plant.
- Always dress your child in long sleeve shirts and full pants while venturing out into the woods.
- Wash clothing and trekking gear with mild soap after a trip to the woods.
- If you suspect your pet might have come in contact with the plant, do not touch them with bare hands and shower them as soon as you get home.
- Take care not to burn suspicious plants in your garden as the smoke from a poison ivy plant can also cause an allergic reaction.
- Apply ivy block creams containing the compound Bentoquatam 15 minutes before possible contact with the plant. Lotions with Bentoquatam are available over-the-counter. Consult a doctor before using it in children younger than six years of age (8). Do not apply Bentoquatam to poison ivy rashes since it does not cure existing allergic reaction.
A little precaution can go a long way, so make sure you educate your children about the plant and not touch unknown plants while playing in parks, garden or walking in the woods. Also, make sure you supervise your children when they are outdoors. The best way to avoid poison ivy rash is to avoid coming in contact with any part of the poison ivy plant.
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