• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Poison ivy - oak - sumac rash

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Symptoms:

• A red rash and extreme itching.
• The rash erupts in streaks or patches where the plant touched the skin.
• The rash includes red bumps and may also form large, weeping blisters .
• The reaction can vary from mild to severe. Hospitalization is sometimes required.

The rash usually appears within a couple of days after contact with the plant's oils. The worst stage is often from days 4 to 7. The rash may last for 1 to 3 weeks.

References:

Auerbach PS. Wilderness Medicine . 4 ^th Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby:2001;194-195.

Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5 ^th Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2002:1647-1648,2200.

Habif, TP. Clinical Dermatology . 4 ^th Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby;2004:25,85-89,402.

• Review Date: 5/15/2006
• Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.