Are poison ivy and poison oak contageous?!
Question:
Are poison ivy and poison oak contageous?
My son has either poison ivy or poison oak ( i can't tell the difference.) Anyway I've been to 500 web sites that tell me neither is contageous, however my son was sent home from school and may not be able to attend his grade 8 graduation ceremony and dance! I will take him to the clinic later but was curious now.
Answers:
No.
Once he has washed off the oils, it is not contageous. Even if it is oozing. That is not oil from the plant, it is his body reacting to the poison.
It does not spread from scratching either...when more sores appear it is the body reacting to the initial contact.
Still, tell him not to scratch so he doesn't scar or get infected.
Get him on a steriod and it will feel and look a lot better fast.
(I just had it recently, very bad, and the steriods helped within 24 hours amazingly - Prednisone)