Re: [at-l] Beau the Cat, Poison Ivy, and Questions

[OrangeBug <thornel@ibm.net>]

Of course, you should consider a call to a real world doctor, from what you 
describe.

Poison Ivy is a plant that causes an allergic topical reaction in many 
people. This reaction is an exaggerated inflammatory response, and this can 
create problems for itself. When you scratch the itch, this further injures 
tissue, with release of histamine and other chemicals that lead to more 
inflammation and reaction. Scalding hot water is probably simply another 
way that temporarily soothes and injures, and not a good idea.

I suspect that you get inflammation with both the PI and cat dander. Yes, 
cats and other animals can get poison ivy; mine does in his hunts. Ears get 
nasty and inflamed, and remain so until fall kills the plants. You do not 
get poison ivy as a result of touching a rash caused by poison ivy, only by 
touching oil or vapors from the plant. Buring PI can result in severe 
inflammation and pulmonary complications.

It is also very easy to get a superimposed infection after scratching and 
otherwise injury the rash. This leads to the prolonged problem you report. 
Triple antibiotic cream with or without a topical steroid usually helps. 
More severe cases may require oral or systemic antibiotics and steroids.. 
It is curious that you have been using a prescription creme without knowing 
the name. Is it out of date?

Yes, if you have a crazy old cat, you are likely to have the makings of 
"makings of a crazy old cat lady."

Good luck. Consider Roundup in your yard to kill PI, or get Felix to weed 
it out.

OrangeBug
Atlanta, GA


At 08:27 AM 12/15/1999 -0800, Nina Baxley wrote:
>Question #1: Why does scalding hot water feel so good
>on a poison ivy rash?

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