When to Call Your Doctor for Poison Ivy
Call Your Doctor Now
(night or day) If:
|
You
feel weak or very sick |
|
Difficulty
breathing or severe coughing following exposure
to burning weeds. |
|
Rash
looks infected (e.g., soft yellow scabs, pus or
spreading redness) |
Call Your Doctor Within 24
Hours
(between 9 am and 4 pm) If:
|
You think you need to be seen |
|
Swelling is severe (e.g. the
eyes are swollen shut) |
|
Severe poison ivy reaction
in the past |
 |
Severe itching interferes
with normal activities (e.g. work or school) or
prevents sleep |
|
Rash involves more than one
fourth of the body |
|
Face, eyes, lips or genitals
are involved |
|
Big blisters or oozing sores |
Self Care at Home If:
|
Mild poison ivy, oak or sumac
rash and you don’t think you need to be
seen |
Last reviewed: 10/1/2005
Last revised: 8/1/2003
|
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