When spring comes and buds threaten to turn into leaves, many look forward to summer little realizing the danger that lurks in the undergrowth. Now, wherever you see green think danger. The dreaded poison ivy and oak are on the warpath, and they are out to get you. You think you’re going to be safe in your local parks. Think again. You’re not even safe in your own yard! Without you noticing, the green menace has been spreading through your neighborhood. Now, if you’re out there on the front line, pulling weeds from the flower beds close to the hedge, keep your eyes peeled. It only takes one touch of more or less any part of the plant. That includes the stems, vines, leaves, flowers and roots. They all contain the resin called urushiol. If you do not wash off this resin with ten minutes of contact (using an alcohol-based rub is best), prepare for misery. You get about one day of peace before the rash and fluid-filled blisters come, and then it all begins to itch.
Except that the resin can be picked up on your clothes or the garden tools. Even your pet cat or dog can carry it into your home. During the season, you’re not safe. If you’re caught, wash all your clothes and everything else you were wearing or using at the time. Failure to take this simple precaution could result in a further exposure. The urushiol remains active for months.
One final word of warning. It’s tempting to go out and root out every last sign of these "evil" plants and burn them. Except that, if you burn these plants, the droplets of urushiol can be carried down wind. If you breathe them in or they get into your eyes, this is dangerous.
The treatment is standard. Prednisone should be taken for between five and ten days for a mild "attack". For a more serious condition, you may have to take this steroid for several weeks. It works by suppressing your body’s immune system so it stops trying to deal with the urushiol as an invading foreign substance. So long as you stop taking Prednisone when the condition clears up, there should be little risk of side effects. Even if you are unlucky, the poison ivy is worse than the side effects . Be thankful Prednisone is available. Because of the blisters, there is a risk of skin infections so be prepared to add an antibiotic. Other than that, just wait to get better.
