June 3, 2015

Beware leaves of three: Tips for avoiding poison ivy

It’s the time of year when backyards attract children, trails beckon hikers, and poison ivy attacks the unwary. The Tennessee Poison Center at VUMC provides tips for avoiding or treating the itch-causing plant pest this summer.

It’s the time of year when backyards attract children, trails beckon hikers, and poison ivy attacks the unwary.

This itch-causing plant pest, along with its cohorts poison oak and poison sumac, cause more common allergic reactions than any other source, said Renee Miller, a registered nurse and certified specialist in poison information at the Tennessee Poison Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.