Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac plants can cause a severe skin reaction when their leaves come in contact with human skin. (AS if you didn't know this already!)

The result of contact with one of these plants is a red, bumpy skin rash, usually on areas of the body where the skin is thinnest, like the arms, shins and face. There may be swelling near the rash, which usually progresses to itchy blisters that ooze, harden and then crack. The rash may appear as early as a few hours or as late as 2 weeks after exposure. What determines how soon a person reacts after exposure is how sensitive he or she is to the plant and the number of previous times the person has been exposed to it.
 

(((The typical rash is arranged as a red line on an exposed area of the body caused by the plant dragging across the skin. However, patches of skin rash can break out on the neck or between the fingers. The rash will continue for up to two weeks. If the skin is broken by scratching, infection of the skin can complicate the condition. ))))
 

The rash reaches its peak about 5 days after it begins. The blisters break open, releasing a watery liquid. Healing usually takes 1 to 2
weeks. 

Most cases of poison ivy, oak or sumac can be cared for at home and don't require a trip to a doctor. However, a small percentage of people are highly allergic. If you break out in a rash within 4 hours of exposure and your eyes swell shut and blisters form, seek medical attention immediately. 

To care for poison ivy, oak or sumac at home: 
wash the area thoroughly with lots warm water. If the skin is washed immediately after exposure to the poisonous plant, a rash may not develop, and  to relieve itching: apply cotton cloths soaked in cool water or colloidal ointment like Aveeno bar to the area, or sponge the skin with alcohol,  try soaking in a slightly warm bath with Aveeno or baking soda added to help with healing,  apply calamine lotion or a paste of baking soda and water over the rash, and  take an antihistamine like Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton. 

Pregnant women should consult their physician prior to taking any over-the-counter medication. Other people, including those with medical conditions are advised to read product labels carefully and consult a pharmacist if they have questions about use. 

Clothing exposed to the poisonous plant should be washed. Shoes or clothing that can't be washed should be kept isolated in a well ventilated area for 3 weeks. 

If the rash becomes extremely severe and painful, making normal activity difficult, or if any of the following symptoms appear, you should
consult a doctor: 

     the blisters continue to ooze longer than two weeks a fever develops, or 
     lymph nodes in your neck, under your arms or in your groin 
     area become swollen and sore. 

Any one or more of these symptoms could signal an infection, which may require antibiotic treatment. 

A doctor should also be consulted if the medication prescribed for the poison oak, ivy or sumac causes any of these side effects: 

     insomnia, 
     nervousness or irritability, 
     stomach upset, or 
     weight gain. 

In rare cases involving people who must come in contact with poison ivy, oak or sumac on a regular basis-like firefighters or park rangers immunization treatment is available. The procedure is difficult, since treatment is needed over a long period of time and requires continual maintenance. Also, immunization treatment can often have uncomfortable side effects. Therefore, the best advice is to try to avoid getting the rash in the first place. Here are some preventive tips: 
 learn what each of the three plants looks like and avoid any contact with them. A poison ivy plant that grows in one area of the country may look different from one grown elsewhere. Learn what each plant looks like in your area,  when in wooded areas, wear protective gloves, long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks, don't turn pets loose in the woods, since they may rub against  the plants and pass the irritant along to other humans or animals, be careful not to touch dead branches from a poisonous plant since the chemical irritant on them lasts up to several years, and do not burn these plants. You could inhale the oil from the plants through the smoke and infect your lungs.
 

http://www.anybook.com/naturesrevenge/
NATURE'S REVENGE
The Secrets of Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac, And Their Remedies
by Susan Carol Hauser with a Foreward by William L. Epstein, M.D., Professor of Dermatology, University of California

Lyons & Burford, Publishers, 1996

Paperback, 111 pages, $13.95
 

"NATURE'S REVENGE is in its third printing by Lyon's & Burford and is the only comprehensive text available on poison ivy, poison oak & poison sumac. It's being hailed by the experts as a must have for anyone who spends time outdoors, or those who treat others who have been afflicted. On the NATURE'S REVENGE Home Page find out what this informative and witty text has to offer. Check out the Myths area which features sections from the book that sorts out myth from reality. You can also order NATURE'S REVENGE and have
it shipped anywhere in the world, and save 10% when you order online from AnyBook International (the provider of book sales for the NATURE'S REVENGE web site). We encourage you to drop the author a note with your personal tales of encounters with the pesky plant, for an upcoming companion to NATURE'S REVENGE.?
 

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