Toxic tree reaction

An Auckland 7-year-old’s eye was left swollen shut after she climbed a toxic tree in her front yard. Over the Auckland anniversary and Waitangi long weekends, Mieke Byerly and her husband had been painting their house. Byerly’s eldest daughter Aniela loves to climb, and the colourful rhus tree is easy to access because its branches hang low. The reaction didn’t show up for at least eight hours. Aniela complained about having an itchy bite near to her eye. The next day, her face had a red patch that progressed down the length of her body. By the next morning, her eye had swollen closed. Severe dermatitis can occur between 12 hours and seven days after contact with a rhus, often accompanied by localised swelling of the face, arms and legs that lasts up to 10 days. The tree – Toxicodendron succedaneum – causes severe dermatitis and rashes, itching and blisters, wherever skin comes into contact with the plant or its sap. Almost two weeks later, the fiery redness and puffiness has faded somewhat from Aniela, but her skin is still very rough and sore.