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Help With My Son's Posion Ivy

jacquie4000

jacquie4000

Well-Known Member
Hello everyone. My son has always had a problem with posion ivy.
This time though he has it all over his face and both eyes are almost
swollen shut. I took him to the doctor they gave him prednisone. I know
this takes time but he is worse. Any advice on helping the swelling and
itch? All advice welcome.:yes:
 
Guitar's Cry

Guitar's Cry

Disciple of Pan
Though I've never had a problem with poison ivy, there's a folk cure that claims that rubbing crushed Oak leaves over the rash will help. Supposedly the tannic acid counteracts the toxin.
 
lunamoth

lunamoth

Will to love
That sounds aweful and painful...it's a very good thing you took him to the Dr. Have his symptoms worsened since he saw the Doc? If so you may want to consider giving them a call and an update on his condition. PI can be dangerous if it is severe enough.

For cooling the blisters we always used Calamine lotion. Nothing oily.

Keep us posted...my mom and my husband both have severe reactions to poison ivy...no fun.
 
Scuba Pete

Scuba Pete

Le plongeur avec attitude...
Please,

whatever you use, get it approved by your doctor FIRST. Who knows what will react to prednizone or how. You are dealing with an allergy, and like all allergies, doing the wrong thing can cause it to go into "hyper" mode and that could not only be more problematic, but fatal as well. Anaphylactic shock is not something to be trivialized. Heck, I keep epinephrine in my first aid kit at ALL times.
 
jacquie4000

jacquie4000

Well-Known Member
He has an epi pen as he is deadly allergic to bees so I have that on hand but he has a fever now. Calamine lotion is out for the eyes. I will stay up longer to monitor him he is bad with any allergy problem.
 
Booko

Booko

Deviled Hen
Normally I use a 1/3 strength bleach solution immediately after exposure, then clean with alcohol, COLD water and soap, and then alcohol again. That stops poison ivy in its tracks.

But if I don't realize I've made contact and see the blisters, I keep the area covered with zinc oxide lotion (Desitin) and a bit of gauze bandage.

ALL of which is just not gonna work considering where your son's poison ivy is. You were right to get him on the predisone ASAP.

If it's getting worse after the predisone I would advise you to call the doctor. I wouldn't wait until Monday, frankly. Stuff like this near the eyes is very dangerous.

In the meantime -- keep him on Benadryl constantly.

If you wash the area, use cold water. Warm water will open the pores and it may spread further.

If you have ANY questions about drug interactions, the best person to ask is the pharmacist. They know more about it than the docs do. :yes:
 
jacquie4000

jacquie4000

Well-Known Member
Thanks Sharon. An update I just called the doctor and I am waiting for a call back as it is worse this morning so we shall see what he suggests. Poor guy can't see.
 
Jaymes

Jaymes

The cake is a lie
Oh man, poor thing. :( My mom had that happen to her once, and all she could do was wait it out. I hope your son feels better soon!
 
michel

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
I feel so sorry for him; it must be awful. Maybe this is of help?

From:- http://www.jaxmed.com/articles/Diseases/poison_ivy_dermatitis.htm#Treatment:

  • Compresses.
Most people find that cool compresses in one form or another are quite soothing. Try using a towel or wash cloth soaked in either plain tap water, Epson salt water (up to about 2 tablespoons of salt per cup, stir until the salt dissolves) or Burow's Solution (an astringent solution -- you can make it yourself using Domeboro tablets or powder--available over-the-counter). This can help relieve the intense itching and remove any dry crust that has formed as a result of the rash. Let the water dry on the area, leaving a salt dust covering. Do this a couple of times a day (or more).
A fan blowing over the cool compress will diminish some of the heat of the itching and help to dry up some of the ooze coming from the rash. As the skin is cooling, the blood vessels compress and that cuts down on the itching and the new ooze. This is especially good during the two or three worst days of the rash. Along the same lines, some dermatologists recommend rubbing an ice cube gently over the rash several times a day, then letting the skin air dry. Soaking in a tub, particularly using an oatmeal bath such as Aveeno®, can also be very soothing to the itch. Be sure the bath is cool or lukewarm -- but not hot -- as heat tends to make the rash even more inflamed. (I'm aware that some people maintain that a VERY hot shower can dull the pain and relieve some itching. I, personally, do not recommend heat therapy for Poison Ivy).

  • [*]Topicals
After cooling your skin (using any of the forms mentioned above) coat the rash with a lotion such as Calamine®. This continues to help relieve the itching and dry up the blisters. Be sure to check the expiration date on an old calamine bottle in your medicine cabinet, since it may not be effective after the expiration date. Calamine may not seem to do much, in some cases, but I don't think it will hurt anything and is worth a try in the early stages.
Be sure the lotion does not contain benzocaine, zirconium, or a topical antihistamine, such as Benadryl® (which is in Caladryl®). These can actually make the rash worse by producing their own allergic reactions when applied to already sensitive skin.
Smearing on 1% hydrocortisone cream (available over-the-counter without prescription) may give some relief, but is nowhere nearly as effective as the potent topical corticosteroid preparations available from your physician by prescription. These can help suppress the itching and give temporary relief, but do little to hasten the drying up of the rash.
 
jacquie4000

jacquie4000

Well-Known Member
Update the doctor raised the amount of medicine to see if this helps him. I have been just putting a cool compress on his eyes to relieve some of the swelling. It is helping he seems to be doing a little better now.
 
Engyo

Engyo

Prince of Dorkness!
paste of vinegar and baking soda - when it stops fizzing, slather it all over the infected areas (don't get it into eyes or mouth though)
 
jacquie4000

jacquie4000

Well-Known Member
thanks Engyo I will try this on the rest of his face and body though his eyes are the worst, which I can not do much for.
 
Booko

Booko

Deviled Hen
jacquie4000 said:
Update the doctor raised the amount of medicine to see if this helps him. I have been just putting a cool compress on his eyes to relieve some of the swelling. It is helping he seems to be doing a little better now.
Click to expand...

What michel posted reminded me -- an oatmeal compress may help as well. Put the rolled oats in the food processor to turn into a more flourlike material, then wet and apply.

At least that won't mess up his eyes.
 
Green Gaia

Green Gaia

Veteran Member
I am very allergic to Poison Ivy as well and was very glad to find something called Ivy Stat a couple years ago. Works like a charm for me. It's a bit pricey, but well worth it.
 
jacquie4000

jacquie4000

Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone. He is doing better he went to school today, although he looks like he has been in the war zone. I am sorry I have not been online as of late. I will return soon.
 
Jaymes

Jaymes

The cake is a lie
I'm glad to hear he's doing so much better, Jacquie :) How on earth did the poor boy get it on his face, anyway?
 
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