Poison Ivy

[rmc20021]

I have an 8 yo girl who showed up after school on Monday with what appears to be poison ivy. She had the rash on her forhead and one arm...spotty, but in clusters, sort of blistery. She said it itches.

The next day it was worse when she arrived after school, and yesterday she wasn't here.

This morning when dcm brought the younger sib, she told me she put sunscreen into SA dcg's bookbag to use after school because what she has is from the sun and she gets it every year.

Well, dcg had the rash WHEN she arrived so it was not because she was out in the sun at daycare. And it was raining Monday so we didn't even go outside on Monday and it had rained all day on Sunday as well.

I still believe it is poison ivy, and although I know it's not contagious, but it just bugs me to think it might be poison ivy and not being treated.

[countrymom]

my kids school have it, I'm not sure why the school is not taking care of it. Can you tell mom to give you calamine lotion or give her dd benedryl so she stops itching.

[rmc20021]

Dcm is just insisting it is from the sun. This is a VERY fair complected girl. If she had been in the sun long enough to have this type of reaction, I'm sure there would be other evidence of being in the sun...such as red, or pink skin.

There is nothing but the rash. The rest of her skin is just as pale as it was last week.

[Blackcat31]

Why not require a doctor's note stating the nature of the rash.

Our licensing rules in MN state ANY undiagnosed rash MUST have a doctor's note for return to care.

What if it IS Poisin Ivy....that can potentially spread like wildfire and I would be concerned about other's being exposed.

My BIL is deathly allergic to Poison Ivy and if exposed, it requires a hospital stay for him.

[Willow]

I have incredibly fair skin. Every year around spring I get a rash just like you describe to some degree. Some years time is all that's needed for it to go away, other years it's bad enough to warrant a trip to the dermatologist for a steroid cream. It's never accompanied by a sun burn but my derm doc says it is a result of sun exposure.

Sunscreen is supposed to help but usually makes mine worse...go figure


Could still be poison ivy, but wanted to throw out there that what mom is saying could be true based on my personal experience with it.


Eta link - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sun-allergy/DS01178

[NeedaVaca]

My DD also gets a rash from sun exposure when Spring hits and she starts spending more time outside. It happens every year! I'm not saying your DCG doesn't have poison ivy but my DD gets a rash and the rest of her body is the same as usual with no sunburn etc.

[Childminder]

My brother gets a rash that looks like poison ivy every spring and it has been determined that it is from fresh cut mowed lawns. Goes away after a couple weeks and is just caused by the first cutting.

If you are concerned that it is poison ivy tell the parents that to be comfortable caring for her you would like a doctors note. Just smile and say: Please humor me, I am such a worrywart".

[rmc20021]

I'm not concerned if it IS poison ivy, or a rash from the sun. Poison ivy is NOT contagious. The only way you can get it is from the oil from the leaf. Or if the oil gets on bed linens or clothing and hasn't been washed.

I will ask dcm to have girl checked to make sure what she thinks it is, is in fact what it is though...

[rmc20021]

Ok...dcg just got home from school...rash is much worse, has become solid red welt on forehead and covers a good portion of both arms.

I do not believe now that it is poison ivy...does this still sound like sun exposure????

Anybody from MI know the childcare rules regarding undiagnosed rashes so I can show mom and have it to back me up????

[NeedaVaca]

Yes, my daughters can look like welts. If the rash is that bad and you are concerned it wouldn't be awful to ask mom to go to the Dr though. It sounds pretty uncomfortable for the child and the Dr. could probably prescribe something to clear it up faster, plus you would have confirmation that it's not contagious.