The poison oak bush has shiny leaves that appear in groups of three. Contact with a poison oak plant is very irritating to the skin. The oily sap it emits causes skin outbreaks. Anywhere the skin wipes against the oil of the poison oak, there may soon be intense skin irritation. Poison oak symptoms may also occur if the plant is being burned and the smoke is in the air, according to the National Institutes of Health. This bush may cause problems from minor skin irritation to a life-threatening allergic reaction to the poison oak oil.
Itching
When the oil from a poison oak bush touches the skin, intense itching may occur. Body heat may intensify the itching. Items that came in contact with the oil of the poison oak tree, such as shoes and clothing, will continue to spread the itching over the body until the item is thoroughly cleaned to remove the oil.
Rash
The rash caused by contact with poison oak may appear within four hours to four days after touching the poison oak's oil, according to KidsHealth.org. The rash may be very intense and may appear again after the first outbreak. The rash may get a crust as the skin irritation progresses, and it may persist for one to three weeks.
Blisters
Raised blisters that vary in size may occur after contact with a poison oak bush. The blisters will appear anywhere the skin had contact with the bush. The blisters may be in only one location or may be spread all over the body. Blisters may continue to appear after the first batch is seen. A clear liquid may be emitted from the blisters. The skin covered in blisters may feel quite painful.
Infection
If the skin irritated by poison oak gets infected, the skin will get red, will feel warm, and may swell. The fluid oozing from the blisters may change from clear to yellow if an infection occurs.
Swelling of Tongue or Throat
If a patient is allergic to poison oak she may have an extreme reaction to contact with the bush. Her tongue and throat may begin to swell and make breathing difficult. This is a rare reaction that requires immediate medical care.
