Poison Ivy & what you need to know when affected by it?

Poison Ivy is a plant that is to be seen through most of North America and is available in two main varieties – Western, or Pacific, and Atlantic. The concern with Poison Ivy, which grows as ground cover and can become large bushes, is that it contains an oil – Urushiol – that, when it comes into contact with our skin, causes very unpleasant blistering and irritation.
It is in our interest to understand that the oil occurs not just in the leaves but in all 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 undergo.
Why Poison Ivy is poisonous
It may seem pointless to us that at plant should be poisonous, but like many living things Poison Ivy has its part in the ecosystem. The way it grows is a clue as it is used as shelter for lower growing plants and ground dwelling animals, and the majority of these are, unlike humans, not affected by the oil.
Also, Poison Ivy gives rise to berries that are an important foodstuff for a number of bird species.
How to see the symptoms and more about Urushiol oil.
The patient will very quickly undergo irritation in the skin, combined with severe itching and inflammation in the concerned area. The skin will become discoloured and a burning feeling will occur, and in a short period blisters will form along with the rash.
Suffering can be endure for many weeks or may be gone 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 factors that people need to understand about Urushiol oil, and the first is that it is very potent indeed. Research has proven that a particle of the oil the size of a pin-head could spread to 500 people, and as it is not a water based substance it will not evaporate.
The latter problem presents a major obstacle as it means the oil can stick to 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 contaminated. Clothes, shoes, tools and pets can all contain the oil, and the tiny amounts believed to cause suffering give it greater potency.
Gloves and coats, together with boots, are among the most common causes of Poison Ivy infection and should be disinfected thoroughly if contamination is suspected.
How anyone can become infected
There are numerous 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 way as we have already noted.
The reason that we suffer when having encountered the oil is because of the instant reaction it promotes, and it is notable that direct contact with the plant is not vital to induce a reaction.
If Poison Ivy is burned the smoke is contaminated with vaporised oil, and even coming into contact with this mixture can cause an attack. It has been said that a 100 year old item once affected a person, 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 cats kept away from Poison Ivy bushes.
How to help a sufferer of a Poison Ivy reaction
It is essential that treatment is initiated immediately, and the best method is to wash the affected area in warm water. A second 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 essential to crack the blisters, too, and to give the area of infection exposure to the air. Keeping blisters attended to is vital in order not to add infection.
Remember that it is simply the oil that will encourage the infection to spread, so contact with it should be treated with caution.
The condition will, eventually, clear up completely, but there are treatments available for the irritation and for the worst reactions. It is the choice of the individual whether to suffer in silence or to invite further help. Some individuals are fortunate in that they have no sensitivity to Poison Ivy, but these are rare and most of us would be infected by coming into contact with the plant.
If one knows of Poison Ivy the best advice a man can give is the most natural – 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