Poison Ivy - home remedies and when to call the doctor?

[katb]

Just picked up kid #2 from school because she has poison ivy.  It's in between her big toe and the little one.  Some small blisters.  The nurse at the school was quite alarmed and suggested calling her ped 80x.  I mean I called when my son had it on his face but a rash between the toes?  I am sure it hurts and we are soaking it right now.  I don't think it is call worthy but tomorrow at school I am sure she will go to the office for some calamine and the nurse will ask, what did your doctor say?  Ugh.
Anyway, I am soaking in baking soda and making a paste of the powder later to help dry it out. What other things help?  We used the benedryl spray but it didn't help her.  

[pandorica]

I've always just done benadryl and calamine if it's bad... But I wouldn't consider a small spot on her toe bad. I'm actually shocked that someone thinks that warrants a visit to the doctor...

[wampuscat]

I've had good results with Ivarest: www.walgreens.com/store/c/ivarest-poison-ivy-itch-relief-cream/ID=prod4467-product

[Deleted]

I recommend an oatmeal bath. Putting oatmeal directly on it helped me when I had poison ivy all over my arms and legs as a kid. I don't consider it a cause for alarm unless it's in mucus membranes. It should run its course and then it will be fine, I think. Try to keep her from scratching.

ETA: Wash all clothes that may have come in contact with the plant. 

[dottyblue]

I wouldn't call the pedi for that. Perhaps the school nurse thought it might be Hand, Foot and Mouth which presents with blisters? Her reaction is strange though.

Ditto the PPs on calamine and Ivarest.

[ginger]

I agree...I wouldn't call for poison ivy.

[olives]

Apr 28, 2015 12:18:53 GMT -5 wampuscat said:

I've had good results with Ivarest: www.walgreens.com/store/c/ivarest-poison-ivy-itch-relief-cream/ID=prod4467-product

second this.  I've used it before.

[sacattack]

I love tecnu and zanfel - both are awesome. Zanfel is super expensive ($45 for a tiny tube) but it works! Tecnu is a lot cheaper ($15) and you get a ton more.

[dragon's breath]

We get poison oak here, I second the Technu recommendation.

[Deleted]

H has gotten it so bad that he needed steroids. It's like if he gets anywhere near it, his whole body freaks out.

It's been on his... ummm... yeah... before. Poor guy.

[bluelily]

Just keep an eye out for signs it's gone systemic: rashes on parts of her body she definitely never came in contact with, swelling eyes or face, breathing issues. When this happened to me, it was like 5 days after contact, when the initial rashes were already starting to clear up.

[panbitch]

There is some detergent you may need to get to get the oil out of her clothes. I can't remember it now but camping type places have it.

[eb777888]

Well, H is SUPER allergic to it. I swear, if there's poison ivy anywhere in the vicinity, he'll get it. And it spreads and is just horrible. His whole family is like that. He's had it at 5-10 times since we've been together and he usually just sits in misery and tries not to itch with the OTC stuff. Last time he got it, it spread to his face and near his eye so he went to the doctor. They gave him a shot that stopped the itching. It was like a miracle, lol. He said he will get the shot every time from now on.

If I get it or David gets it, we're heading to the doctor. Probably overdoing it but man, from looking at H, poison ivy is hell.