By admin 
What is a reaction to poison ivy?
Poison ivy sap causes an allergic reaction on the skin called acute contact dermatitis. This reaction can occur if you directly touch the plant or something (object, animal) that has been in contact with the plant’s sap.
The skin reaction to poison ivy is very unpleasant, but it is neither dangerous nor contagious.
What to do if you come into contact with poison ivy?
If your child has come into contact with poison ivy, quickly bathe him or her in cool water and mild soap to remove all sap from the affected areas. Avoid scrubbing to avoid further irritating the skin. Wash clothing and objects that have come into contact with poison ivy.
If you are out and about and don’t have soap on hand, give the skin a quick rinse or clean it with an unscented wet wipe. When you get home, you can bathe your child. He or she may still develop an allergic reaction, but it will be less severe. Don’t forget to wash under his or her nails.
Avoid letting your child touch his or her eyes or mouth.
How to treat?
When the rash appears, wash your child again with soap and water. There may be some sap left on the skin.
Lesions often become infected because children scratch themselves. So, if possible, prevent your child from directly scratching their skin. To prevent this, wear long clothing or give them a piece of cloth that they can rub on the lesions to relieve the itching instead of scratching. To prevent the rash from becoming infected if your child does scratch, trim their nails.
Practical advice
To relieve your child’s itching, you can:
put a little baking soda in your bath or mix baking soda with a little water to make a paste to apply to redness;
apply a corticosteroid cream to the lesions. Ask your pharmacist for advice on which one to buy.
Preventing a Reaction to Poison Ivy
When walking in the woods, make sure your child stays on the trails and wears long clothing, closed-toe shoes and socks. The best way to prevent allergic reactions to poison ivy, however, is to learn how to recognize and avoid it.
Poison ivy leaves are oval and shiny and are grouped in threes. Their edges are smooth or slightly serrated. They are reddish in spring, green in summer and then yellow, orange or red in fall. In June and July, the plant has cream to yellow-green flowers. Small, round, green and yellow fruits appear in September.
What to do if you have poison ivy on your property?
If you see the plant on your property, it is advisable to pull it up with gloves and then throw it away. Place the plants in tightly closed plastic bags for several weeks before throwing them away. In fact, if the poison ivy plant is not dead, it could cause a reaction to garbage collectors due to the heat given off by the garbage.
Never burn poison ivy, as breathing its smoke can cause a dangerous respiratory reaction. Also, avoid composting poison ivy, as its seeds can contaminate it.
Ragweed or poison ivy?
Ragweed and poison ivy are two very different plants. Ragweed, which has serrated foliage much like that of carrots, is not dangerous when touched. However, it is responsible for hay fever , a common seasonal allergy. For this reason, it is also recommended to pull it up and throw it away.
To remember
The allergic reaction to poison ivy is very unpleasant, but it is not dangerous.
Do not scratch the lesions directly, as they could become infected.
Warm baths with oatmeal or baking soda and cold compresses help relieve itching.
It is dangerous to burn the plant. Instead, it should be pulled out and thrown away.