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Poison Ivy information
A plant mostly found in North America, Poison Ivy is also known as Toxicodendron diversilobum. It is basically a weed and is known to cause allergic reactions. Young or fair people are the most susceptible to it. However, this allergy is not contagious. Even on scratching poison oak blisters, spreading of the rashes will not take place.
Poison Ivy Symptoms
Poison Ivy symptoms appear after approximately 24 - 48 hours after exposure to the weed. The symptoms include:
- Skin irritation
- Redness
- Blistering
- Swelling
- Itchy bumps
- Severe itching
Severity of the symptoms will depend upon the degree of patient’s sensitivity, amount of exposure and the body parts exposed. There may be persistence of symptoms for seven to ten days (in case of mild infection) or for weeks (in case of severe infection).
Causes for Posion Oak Rash The basic cause behind poison oak rash is the contact with the oil called urushiol. Urushiol is a colorless or pale yellow oil found in the sap of poison oak. It changes color to brownish-black on being exposed to air. Apart from direct contact, even indirect contact with urushiol, for ex by touching something on which the urushiol was present will also lead to the rash.