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Other plants that cause an allergic reaction

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By Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS

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Some plants contain the same oil (urushiol) found in poison ivy, oak, or sumac, or they contain a substance that is similar enough to urushiol to cause a similar rash. Contact with these plants can make you allergic to urushiol so that future contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac will cause a rash, even if you never had previous contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac. These plants include:

  • The ginkgo tree.
  • The Japanese lacquer tree.
  • Mangoes (the allergenic oil is in the fruit's rind and leaves).
  • Cashews (the allergenic oil is in the shell).
  • The Indian marking nut tree.
  • Tropical silk oaks (sometimes grown as ornamental houseplants).

Credits

Author Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Updated September 25, 2007
Last Updated: 09/25/2007