Poison Ivy and what to do when affected by it..

Poison Ivy is a plant that is to be seen through all of North America and is known in two main varieties – Western, or Pacific, and Atlantic. The importance with Poison Ivy, which grows as ground cover and can eventually be seen as large bushes, is that it contains an oil – Urushiol – that, when it comes into contact with our skin, causes very nasty blistering and irritation.
It is imperative to understand that the oil occurs not just in the leaves but in many parts of the plant, including the root and the stem, and it is the immune system reacting against the poison, as it seeps into the skin, that is the originator of the pain we feel.
Why Poison Ivy is poisonous
It may seem pointless to us that at plant should be poisonous, but like the best living things Poison Ivy has its home in the ecosystem. The way it grows is interesting as it gives shelter for lower growing plants and ground dwelling animals, and the majority of those are, unlike humans, not affected by the oil.
Furthermore, Poison Ivy supplies berries that are an important foodstuff for a number of bird species.
How to identify the symptoms and more about Urushiol oil.
The patient will very quickly notice irritation in the skin, in company with severe itching and inflammation in the troubled area. The skin will become a different colour and a burning irritation will occur, and in a short period blisters will form along with the rash.
Suffering can be endure for many weeks or may be finished within days, and an individual case is different. It is suggested that cooling the skin is a good antidote and also prevents further infection.
There are a number of important points that people need to get to know about Urushiol oil, and the first is that it is very potent indeed. Research has indicated that a small amount of the oil the size of a pin-head could be enough for 500 people, and as it is not a water based substance it will not evaporate.
The latter mentioned presents a major obstacle as it means the oil can still be on on items it has been in contact with for as long as, and maybe longer than, a year. This presents the possibility of re-infection, or of a person who has not been in contact with the plant being affliected. Clothes, shoes, tools and pets can all be party to the oil, and the very small amounts required to cause suffering give it greater potency.
Gloves and coats, as well as boots, are among the commonest causes of Poison Ivy infection and should be scrubbed thoroughly if contamination is suspected.
How an individual can become infected
There are a variety of ways that an individual can come into contact with the oil from Poison Ivy, and transfer from preciously contaminated clothing and other items is one reason as we have already noted.
The reason that we suffer when having come into contact with the oil is because of the instant reaction it promotes, and it is notable that direct contact with the plant is not imperative to induce a reaction.
If Poison Ivy is burned the smoke is contaminated with vaporised oil, and even coming into contact with this smog can promote an attack. It has been said that a 100 year old oil once affected a sufferer, an indication of how troublesome the plant can be.
Anything that has been in contact with the sap of the plant has to be avoided, therefore, and dogs kept away from Poison Ivy bushes.
How to deal with a sufferer of a Poison Ivy reaction
It is essential that treatment is attempted immediately, and the best method is to wash the contaminated area in warm water. A popular recommendation is to use a very well tried antimicrobial soap and to do all one can to stop the patient from scratching, as this will spread the infection beyond its boundaries.
It is recommended to crack the blisters, too, and to enable the area of infection exposure to the air. Keeping blisters bandaged is necessary in order not to add infection.
Remember that it is simply the oil that will allow the infection to spread, so contact with it should be treated with caution.
The condition will, eventually, clear up naturally, but there are treatments available for the irritation and for serious reactions. It is the choice of the individual whether to let it die naturally or to invest in further help. Some individuals are fortunate in that they have no sensitivity to Poison Ivy, but these are few and far between and most of us would be infected by coming into contact with the plant.
If one knows of Poison Ivy the best advice we can give is the most obvious – avoid it very carefully and don’t let your pet near it.

Nadeeka Johnson is an experienced article writer with over a 1,000 articles covering a wid variety of topical written at www.allstop.com/poison-ivy/poison-ivy-treatment