3 Year Old with Poison ivy---Help!

There is an over the counter remedy I have seen at walmart that is specific for poison ivy. You might want to try that, but I would suggest going to the doctor, he can give him a shot, or prescribe a topical treatment.

My son had it also resently and we used ivarest, you can get it at walmart I thought it worked great. Also I've heard from my mother-in-law that washing the infected area with plain old Dawn Dish soap.
Good Luck

W.,
I had poison ivy a couple years ago and it was so bad, it was literally all over my body and face. I tried everything and nothing worked. But, when I went to the dr. the first time, they gave me pills, histamine blockers, I went a week and they didn't work, so I was already going on 1.5 weeks. I went back and they tried to give me more pills and I refused. So they gave me a shot, I felt so much better and that cleared it up very very quickly. Since your child is 3 and probably can't take pills, ask for the shot. It was in the butt so it didn't hurt at all. Hopefully with your child being so young, they will allow the shot.

I agree with all of the other responses... But also try the old faithful remedy... Calamine Lotion. It is specifically for poision ivy/oak - it is a drying lotion. I was always getting poision ivy as a kid and my Mom used this - worked every time.

Good Luck,
L.

Hi W.,
Sarah F.'s response included:
"More Poison Ivy --
If new blisters occur several days after the first ones, your child probably has ongoing contact with poison ivy oil.

To prevent recurrences, bathe all dogs and wash all clothes and shoes that were with your child on the day of exposure."

Don't forget to wash his sheets and blankets, too. I remember that when my nephew had it, we had to was the toys he was playing with, too. Good luck!!

My husband recently had poison ivy/poison oak and had to have an antibiotic to clear it up. SO going to the doctor is the way to go.

I don't know if it's ok for 3 year olds - you could probably ask the pharmacist or it may say on the label, but, the best product for poison ivy is Zanfel. It's *EXPENSIVE* - if i remember right, it was $20 or $25 for 1 or 2 ounces. But, you don't use very much of it and it is *SO* worth it. It's a cream. The directions say to wet the area (like in the shower). Apply the cream to the area, leave on for something like 15 seconds (I don't remember exactly, but, it should say on the label) and rinse off. and it takes away the itch for about 12 or so hours. I had a bad case on my legs and arms once and this was the *only* thing that gave me decent relief for more than a few minutes. Also, extra vitamin C is supposed to help the body fight it off, too.

Good Luck!

Wal-Mart carries Ivy-Dry and its safe for the little ones my 2-year old had it and it was gone within 2 days
Good luck

Seems I remember hearding that baking soda in the bath will help. I do know that you want to keep it dry, don't put ointments on that leave it moist, that's when it spreads. don't cover with bandages or anything. And make sure all clothes are thoroughly washed, the oils can last for YEARS and continue to infect.
Good Luck!

when i was little my mom gave me and my brother baths in oatmeal when we got poison ivy... it really helped so does calomine lotion try that and see if it works
just put oatmeal on his skin or put it in his bath water just dont let him eat it lol ok how this helps :)

I had poison Ivy bad when I was young several times. The doctor told my mom that when you have a severe case or have sever allergic reactions to the smallest amount once it's in your blood stream even drying up the current spots scratching somewhere else can cause it to make new areas. I had to have a shot for my case it was so severe.

My husband has had poison Ivy twice on both arms since the start of summer and both times he had to be put on a 7 day pack prednisone to get rid of it. He tried everything possible, even natural products and nothing worked. Some people just have such a reaction that doctor intervention is necessary.

this is a reference site I get info from often for illness, this is what it says:

Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):
Steroid Cream
Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream 4 times per day to reduce itching. Keep the cream in the refrigerator. (Reason: it feels better if applied cold).

Local Cold
Soak the involved area in cool water for 20 minutes or massage it with an ice cube as often as necessary to reduce itching and oozing.

Antihistamines
If itching persists, give Benadryl orally every 6 hours as needed.

Avoid Scratching
Cut the fingernails short and discourage scratching to prevent a secondary infection from bacteria.

More Poison Ivy
If new blisters occur several days after the first ones, your child probably has ongoing contact with poison ivy oil.

To prevent recurrences, bathe all dogs and wash all clothes and shoes that were with your child on the day of exposure.

Contagiousness
Poison ivy or oak is not contagious to others.

Expected Course
Usually lasts 2 weeks. Treatment reduces the severity, not the length.

Call Your Doctor If:
Poison ivy lasts > 3 weeks
It looks infected
Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms ((Your child looks or acts very sick
Difficulty breathing or severe coughing following exposure to burning weeds
Looks infected (e.g., soft yellow scabs, pus or spreading redness)

Hope that helps

Try giving him a bath in lukewarm water without soap. Then put ivy dry on all the affected areas. If he scratches a lot buy some Benadryl lotion for itch. Don't put tight or warm clothes on him and keep his hands in socks or cotton gloves. This is the only thing that worked on my daughter. He may also need some internal medicine or it could be something besides poison ivy.

An oatmeal bath is very soothing and works wonders.

calomine lotion works really well....it should take several days for the blotches to go away. I know he is little but he cant scratch....there are little bubbles on the rash and when he pops them by scratching it causes it to spread....good luck

If he has had it for a couple of weeks, i would definitely take him to the doctor ASAP...
in the meantime, he can get itch relieve with calamine lotion or benadryl gel. Im so sorry you rlittle guy has Poison Ivy - OuCH!

This help was given to me by our pediatrician (who was a children's allergy specialist, too) - get some Fels Napatha laundry soap, it comes in a bar form. (you can look it up online to see what pkg looks like) Kroger's used to carry it tho don't know if they still do, but you might want to get 2 or 3 bars of it. We've kept some of this around for years due to one child being highly allergic!

The 3yo is reinfecting himself because the oil is now on everything he has worn (and could be on your's too now) and is also in his bedding. You'll need to bathe the child in this bar soap and then wash EVERYTHING worn or used. It'll be a big job, but you have to get rid of the oils! During wash, just drop the bar in the washer and let it agitate most of the cycle - stop the washer and find the soap and get it out, then let the load finish up. You might need to wash down any items like furniture and toys the child is always in contact with.

Sounds like you're lucky insomuch as that noone else seems to have gotten the rash! You'll need to find out where the plants are and remove them (use an empty bread bag, put it over your hand/arm, pull up the plants, pull the bag back down your arm enclosing the plants and toss - the bag will keep the oils from you)

i heard take oatmeal(reg) cook it and let it cool alittle and rub it all over the child and let it dry and wash it off. That should help it

Go to the store and get some hydrocortizone cream. It works wonders and that is probably what the doctor will tell you. It is over the counter. My 2 1/2 year old got poison ivy from our outdoor cat last year and it was mainly all over his legs. The hydrocortizone cream worked immediately. It is also great for dry skin and bug bites, etc. I used it also on my 6 month old who had mild exema. Good Luck - I think with my little guy it lasted about 5-7 days before it was complately gone usuing the cream. Hope this helps!

Wash the sheets and clothes in very, very hot water everday. Poison Ivy can last a lyr or so in clothing. It takes a while for posion ivy to go away. Aveeno helps but lavendar also helps the itchyness.

Use ZANFEL, (http://www.zanfel.com/) found at CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Eckerd...stops the itching in 30 seconds and usually clears it up in 24 hours. It actually deconsructs the chemicals bonds of the urushiol oil. We just had a bout of poison ivy last weekend....safe to us on face, eyes, genitals if need be....anywhere but internally. It's about $35 per tube and there's 15 applications per tube (comes as a paste). You wet the area, squeeze 1.5 inches into your hand, mix it up like you would with shaving cream, then apply for three minutes, then wash off. If he's bad off, it may take two or three applications to the same area. after the treatment, go ahead and put benadryl cream or cortisone cream on the spot to be safe.

Make sure you launder any and all clothes, bedclothes, towels, washcloths, etc daily to minimize re-exposure!!

Trust me. This is miracle stuff. I'm so allergic that if I smell it on the wind I break out everywhere...this has been the only option for me other than steriods and works better.

Let me know how ya do!!

Just wanted to send you an excellent link that I have used for myself many times:
http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/cures.html

I hope all the advice given on this site as well as the above link will help!

JEWELWEED! In nature, jewelweed grows right next to poison ivy. The stem has a liquid substance that neutralizes the properties that cause the itching and rash. It is growing now and has yellow and orange blooms. You can gather the stem, leaves, flowers and seed pods and blend them into a pulp with some water and then paint onto the rash. Aloe Vera and Vitamin E will aid in healing the skin once you have seen improvement. Do keep it wrapped and be super-vigilant about keeping anything that touches the rash away from skin and washed immediately. Hope this helps! :-)

http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/hydro/jewelwed.htm

Have you tried calamine lotion to treat the outer itching and help heal it, then some Benadryl for a systemic treatment? At three he can take one of the chewable 12.5mg Bendryl tablets.

I would also try very hard to avoid steroids if the doc wants to try to prescribe (prednisone, liquid prednisolone). They usually have to give kids the liquid, and not only is it the most vile and disgusting stuff you would ever put in your mouth (my son has been on it several times for asthma, I've tasted it to see why he refused to swallow it) they can be pretty hard on your body and prolonged use causes dependence.

Keep everything washed well, minimizing oil residue as everyone else has said, but the shot available could be the best route!

deoderant. that dries it up and helps it from spreading. I even used it on my son when he had chicken pox and he only had them for a week! I know it was chicken pox b/c I took him to the doc. even generic deo works!!!