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Larkin Community Hospital and Baystate Medical Center
Exposure to species in the genus Toxicodendron accounts for the most common cause of plant-induced allergic contact dermatitis in the United States and more plant-dermatitides than all of the other families of dermatitis-causing plants combined.[1,2] This exposure is a common complaint seen in the emergency department with an estimated 25-40 million people affected every year.[3] Of note, Rhus dermatitis is an antiquated term for these dermatitides; members of the genus Rhus do not cause dermatitis.
The significant members of the Toxicodendron genus include poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.[4] While it is possible to find these in many areas of the United States, they are not found in deserts, rainforests, or at altitudes higher than 1500 meters.
