Question

Charlie tells the nurse he is excited about an upcoming camping trip. Which statement by the nurse should be included when teaching Charlie and his aunt how to reduce the risk of contact dermatitis related to poison ivy?

a) "Apply sunscreen to protect the skin."
b) "Wear long sleeves and pants while hiking."
c) "Avoid touching any plants in the wilderness."
d) "Use insect repellent on exposed skin."

Answer 1

To reduce the risk of contact dermatitis from poison ivy, the nurse's correct advice is to wear long sleeves and pants while hiking. This protective clothing acts as a barrier to prevent the skin from coming into contact with urushiol, the oil in poison ivy that can cause an allergic reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Reducing the Risk of Contact Dermatitis from Poison Ivy

To reduce the risk of contact dermatitis related to poison ivy during a camping trip, it is important for Charlie and his aunt to take specific precautions. The correct statement by the nurse would be: "Wear long sleeves and pants while hiking." This recommendation is crucial because the poison in poison ivy, known as urushiol, can cause an allergic reaction upon contact with the skin, resulting in itching, redness, swelling, and blisters. By covering exposed skin with protective clothing, the risk of skin contact with poison ivy is minimized.

Additionally, it's beneficial to recognize the appearance of poison ivy, which commonly has "leaves of three," allowing hikers to avoid it altogether. Unlike sunscreen, which protects from sun damage, or insect repellent, which prevents bug bites, wearing long sleeves and pants is a direct method to prevent the skin from touching plants that could potentially cause allergic rashes. This is a case of a type IV hypersensitivity reaction, where memory helper T cells and other immune responses cause tissue damage upon reexposure to the allergen. Therefore, physical barrier methods are most effective in preventing poison ivy dermatitis.