[1] For a fuller description of treatments for poisoning see: United
States Public Health Service, ivy and sumac poisoning. Pub. Health
Rpts. Sup. 161 (rev.), 8 pp., 1943. For sale by the Superintendent of
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. Price, 10
cents.
There seems to be no absolute quick cure for ivy poisoning for all
individuals, even though many studies have been made to devise
effective remedies. Remedies may be helpful in removing the poisonous
principle or rendering it inactive and for giving some relief from the
irritation. Mild poisoning usually subsides within a few days, but if
the inflammation is severe or extensive a physician should be consulted.
Self-treatment also has other dangers, as the symptoms of ivy poisoning
may be confused with those of other conditions and harm may be done by
improper treatment. In all cases the safest procedure is to consult a
physician.
Some tried remedies are effective on certain individuals and ineffective
on others. Sometimes a person will find one remedy effective and later,
to his surprise, get very little relief from it. A large number of patent
medicine remedies of doubtful value are commonly offered for sale. The
following are more or less standard measures that have been advocated by
different individuals and found helpful in certain cases.
The United States Public Health Service recommends a 10 percent alcoholic
solution of tannic acid applied as a lotion. It is stated that in using
it the tops of the blisters should be rubbed off with sterile gauze
saturated with the solution and that any large blisters should be opened
with a sterile instrument. The treatment should be repeated three or four
times at 6-hour intervals. A modified form of this treatment recommends
vigorous rubbing of the lesions with alcohol-soaked gauze to remove
the tops of blisters, followed by application of a 10 percent aqueous
solution of tannic acid as a lotion. Any treatment involving opening
of blisters and the application of alcohol is severe, and many cases
requiring such treatment should be handled by physicians.
One of the oldest well-established remedies is a fresh solution of
one 5-grain tablet of potassium permanganate dissolved in 1 quart of
water; concentrations as much as 5 percent, however, have been used. The
potassium permanganate is apparently active in neutralizing any poison
that may remain on the surface of the skin and it has some therapeutic
properties. This solution may be applied freely to the irritated or
contaminated skin, but the skin should be rinsed with water a few
minutes after the stronger solutions are used. Applications should be
repeated every hour or two. The brown stain it causes on the skin will
in time wear off, or it may be removed with lemon juice. It more or less
permanently stains clothing.
Ferric chloride in combination with several other substances has been
used effectively by many people. One of the most common formulas is that
given under the discussion of precautions against poisoning (p. 22). To
this formula 1 to 3 percent of phenol is frequently added to reduce the
itching; however, not more than 1 percent of phenol should ever be used
without the advice of a physician, on account of the danger of systemic
absorption and poisoning. The solution should be freely applied to the
irritated or contaminated skin every hour or two. Some instances of
persistence of the brown discoloration of the skin have been reported.
For this reason its use is limited, but for most individuals the
discoloration completely disappears after a few days. Stain on clothing
is usually permanent.
Photographer's hypo solution has been used with good results in many
cases. This is a 10-percent solution of sodium thiosulfate in water. The
irritated or contaminated skin should be bathed in it every hour or two.
It does not stain skin or clothing.
A calamine lotion with the addition of about 2 percent of phenol is often
used and in many cases is effective. Frequent applications are necessary.
For some people it is effective in relieving the itching. The pink stain
is not permanent.
It is better to leave inflamed areas exposed to the air rather than cover
them with dressings. If poisoning is so severe that dressings appear
necessary, a physician should be consulted before any home remedies are
applied.