Itch, itch, itch
Filed under: Medicine
My most common diagnosis of the past two weeks has been poison ivy. I didn’t see much of it when I was stationed with the Air Force in Nevada (which makes sense, because “poison ivy” and “desert” don’t exactly go together). But here in Illinois I’ve been seeing a lot of it. At least 2 or 3 patients a day for the past two weeks.
Most people just have a few spots, but some have severe rashes. I’ve seen poison ivy in the eyes, nose, mouth, and less pleasant-to-mention places.
Treatment is straightforward and easy, but I still itch for at least an hour after seeing each patient.
Prevention is the key word. “Leaves of three, let it be” is still good advice. If you get some of the sap on your skin, wash it off with lots of soap and warm water. Pay special attention to under the fingernails, and wash the clothes in hot water because the sap can remain on the clothes for days.
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September 10th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Och… this brings back memories of this one time as a kid when we picked up some horrible cases of poison ivy to the face after going to a petting zoo (we think the goat may have been munching on some and then licking faces based on the locations and who got it). It was the beginning of school, one of the my older brothers just starting middle school and our faces were covered with oozing blisters including an eye swollen shut for me. I still remember being terribly impressed by the fact that the doctor prescribed steroids (I don’t remember which ones) to make sure that our faces grew back right. Or at least that’s they way I remember it as a kid…
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