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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffScratching a poison ivy rash with dirty fingernails may cause a secondary bacterial infection. This might cause pus to start oozing from the blisters. See your doctor if this happens. Treatment for a secondary infection generally includes antibiotics.
References
- Contact dermatitis and patch testing. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Maryland Heights, Mo.: Mosby, Inc.; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00013-4--s0105&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00013-4--s0115&uniq=186228941&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9. Accessed Feb. 28, 2010.
- Contact dermatitis: A practice parameter. Palatine, Ill.: Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/professionals/resources/pdf/contact_dermatitis_%202006.pdf. Accessed Feb. 28, 2010.
- Contact dermatitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch114/ch114c.html. Accessed Feb. 25, 2010.
- Outsmarting poison ivy and other poisonous plants. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm049342.htm. Accessed Feb. 28, 2010.
- Poison ivy, oak and sumac. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/skin_poison.html. Accessed Feb. 25, 2010.
- Gladman AC. Toxicodendron dermatitis: Poison ivy, oak, and sumac. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. 2006;17:120.
- Bovine cartilage. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 28, 2010.
- Poison ivy, oak and sumac. PDRHealth (Physician's Desk Reference). http://www.pdrhealth.com/disease/disease-mono.aspx?contentFileName=BHG01DE21.xml&contentName=Poison+Ivy%2c+Oak%2c+and+Sumac&contentId=120&TypeId=1. Accessed Feb. 28, 2010.
- Mark BJ. Allergic contact dermatitis. Medical Clinics of North America. 2006;90:169.
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