Jennifer-- You are mixing up different situations that have different causes/results. There are three ways that poison ivy can be "caught":
(a) by coming in direct contact with the plant; or
(b)touching something that was just in fresh contact with the plant, such as clothing, a towel, etc. (You catch it because the oil is still present, and can cause the rash); or
(c) skin to skin contact with a freshly infected person that hasn't progressed to the "crusty skin" (non-infectious stage).
Your son was most likely infected by TOUCHING another infected child (and then touching his own face), NOT by swimming with him/her. |
