DC Comics OCT160335 Designer Series Bombshells Poison Ivy Action Figure

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Treatment. The patient in this case report was one of approximately 500,000 cases of TCD reported each year in the United States. 17 The patient’s treatment with oral prednisolone prior to being seen by the dermatology clinic was typical but did not relieve his symptoms, nor did the calamine lotion or oral diphenhydramine. 1 , 13

Templeton D. Climate change is making poison ivy bigger and badder. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2013/07/22/Climate-change-is-making-poison-ivy-grow-bigger-and-badder/stories/201307220149 22 Jul 2013. Pittsburg Post Gazette. Accessed 22 Sep 2020. For additional information on these and other herbicides, and on the selection, care and use of herbicide application equipment see Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food Publication 75, Guide to Weed Control. Harmful EffectsPoison ivy’s original classification, Toxicodendron radicans (T. radicans), was first established by the French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort in the 17th century. Later, Carl Linnaeus, considered the “Father of Taxonomy,” classified poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac under the Rhus genus in 1737. 8 However, by the 18th century, 27 species of Rhus had been identified, with numerous variations, creating the need to better clarify the taxonomic designations of plants falling into the Rhus genus. Thus, the genus Toxicodendron, which means “poison tree,” was reprised for what we know today as poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, with radicans and rydbergii being the most common species. Poison oak ( T. diversilobum) is more common in western United States, and poison sumac ( T. vernix) is primarily confined to marshy areas of eastearn and southeastern United States, but numerous types of Toxicodendron plants can be found in temperate climates all over the world. 7 A. Low-growing form with short erect stems and a flower cluster from the axil of one compound leaf. Figure 3. Poison ivy vines, ranging in size from the thin new one on the right to the large hairy ones on the left. Note that the new stems are not as hairy. (Photo by Amber C. Marable) History. Poison ivy is neither poisonous nor a true member of the Ivy family (Hedera). Instead, it is a member of the Anacardiaceae family, which also includes pistachios, cashews, and mangoes. All members of the Anacardiaceae family contain various forms of pentadecylcatechols within their sap, which is collectively termed urushiol, an oleoresin released from the injured leaves, stems, vines, or berries of these plants. 7

Touching any of the three poisonous species may result in a red, swollen, and painful rash of itchy blisters. Rashes can occur in patches or in streaks and lines. In spring and early summer the young unfolding leaflets are reddish or bronzy green ( Figure 1, left side, below center) and droop or hang limply from the ends of their upraised petioles. Nevertheless, when in doubt, avoid touching the unknown plant until you have obtained help to identify it. Control of Poison Ivy Several herbicides (chemical weed-killers) have been used effectively for providing good control of poison-ivy:Curtisa G, Lewis AC. Treatment of severe poison ivy: a randomized, controlled trial of long- versus short-course oral prednisone. J Clin Med Res. 2014; 6(6):429–434. [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] TCD places a financial burden on our economy and utilizes substantial healthcare resources. For example, outdoor occupations related to agriculture, forestry, and firefighting are at high risk of exposure to poison ivy, and when affected, these workers incur significant monetary expense for worker disability and medical treatments.TCD is responsible for 10 percent of the total US Forest Services lost work time due to injuries. 17 Gladman AC. Toxicodendron dermatitis: poison ivy, oak, and sumac. Wilderness Environ Med. 2006; 17(2):120–128. Accessed September 4, 2020. [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] Mohan J, Ziska L, Clark JS. Biomass and toxicity responses of poison ivy to CO2. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2006; 103:9086–9089. [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ Google Scholar] However, all of the herbicides which kill poison-ivy may also kill or damage other plants growing nearby. If poison-ivy is growing among perennial ornamentals, in a hedge, or entwined about a favorite tree, one must resort to cutting and digging to destroy it. Wear gloves and other protection while cutting and grubbing. Take care also to prevent other persons from being inadvertently contaminated by the tools, the roots, stems and leaves, or by the smoke if the material is burned (see section on Harmful Effects).

While there is no entirely satisfactory treatment for TCD other than the “tincture of time,” longer-course glucocorticoid therapy, such as triamcinolone or prednisone, has been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms associated with TCD. 8 Short courses of low-dose methylprednisolone (so-called “dose paks”) are too brief and too weak to offer effective relief. Glucocorticoids should be administered using a 2- to 3-week taper starting with 60mg daily (preferably taken in the morning with food to avoid gastritis) for five days that is reduced to 40mg daily for five days and then down to 20mg daily for five days. 9 , 8 Contraindications for glucocorticoids include concurrent infection, peptic ulcer disease, poorly controlled hypertension, congestive heart failure, and diabetes. 9 Dementia can also be made worse with systemic steroids (so-called “steroid psychosis”). 9 Less serious side effects of systemic glucocorticoids include an increase in appetite, retention of fluid (edema), irritability, and insomnia. Adrenal suppression associated with prolonged systemic steroid use is rarely a problem when using a 2- to 3-week course of glucocorticoid therapy for poison ivy. 9 Although the leaflets are somewhat oval, they vary greatly in shape and size. Their margins vary from perfectly smooth ( Figure 3A) to finely or coarsely toothed ( Figure 3D), to deeply and irregularly lobed ( Figure 3E). Undersides of the leaflets may be finely hairy all over, or just along the veins and veinlets, or may be virtually without hairs. Eating the plants can cause severe internal irritation, and inhaling particles of urushiol released by burning poison ivy, oak, or sumac can cause swelling of the respiratory passages, which can even result in death. These cases require specific and immediate medical treatment. Control These herbicides can be bought in various concentrations and under many different trade or brand names. Therefore, it is not feasible in this Factsheet to give detailed instructions for mixing and application of each kind. Detailed directions for its use are printed on the label on every container of each herbicide. Follow the manufacturer's directions. For safety's sake, read the label carefully and observe all precautions printed on it.

Look-alikes

The leaves of poison ivy (figure 1) and poison oak (figure 2) have three leaflets. This is where the adage leaves of three, let it be comes from. The leaflets are commonly 2 to 8 inches long and 3⁄4 to 5 inches wide, and they have scattered, jagged teeth along the edges. Some have a larger tooth or lobe close to the bottom edge, giving them a mitten-like shape. About 85 percent of people are allergic to urushiol, the oily compound responsible for the skin reaction. Urushiol is found in all parts of these plants. Simply touching the leaves may expose you to the oil, and additional oil is released when plant parts are crushed or damaged. The oil resists breakdown and may cling to clothing, tools, and pet fur for long periods of time, even a year or more. Exposure to the oil on these secondary sources can also cause an allergic reaction. Poison-ivy is classified as a noxious weed under the Ontario Weed Control Act. This legislation provides a means for regulating control of certain weeds in problem areas. Each municipal council, through its weed inspector, is responsible for the degree of control within its district.

Hauser SC. New York, New York: Lyons & Burford Publishing Co.; 1996. Nature’s Revenge. [ Google Scholar]Figure 11. Smooth sumac leaves have eleven to thirty-one leaflets. Note that the leaflets have teeth along the edges. Poison-ivy is a woody perennial. It may grow as dwarf, shrubby plants only a few centimetres high and carpeting the ground ( Figure 1), or as upright plants 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) high, or the vine-like form may twine around trees, shrubs and posts, and reach a considerable distance above the ground. These vines often develop root-like structures which act as attachments, but apparently do not damage the living plants to which they cling. Figure 7. Virginia creeper vines are generally less “hairy” than poison ivy vines. There are some short rootlets. Note the clasping rootlets that have what look like small suction cups at the tips.