Teenager with severe burns after touching giant hogweed

A young American could take two years to recover from serious burns after coming into contact with a dangerous invasive plant that is particularly present in Quebec.

Alex Childress, a resident of the State of 17-year-old Virginia, was doing landscaping near Fredericksburg when he cut a fairly high weed, reports Richmond Times-Dispatch . In doing so, the plant brushed against his face and arm, but he did not know that it was Giant Hogweed, a dangerous herb also called Heracleum mantegazzianum or "plant of hell".

The sap of giant hogweed contains toxins. The latter are activated by light and make the skin extremely sensitive to the sun, causing damage to superficial skin cells (burn-related, painful and sometimes severe lesions), sometimes less than 15 minutes. Getting sap in the eyes can even lead to permanent blindness.

When Mr. Childress realized that his skin was hurting, he immediately thought he had caught a sunburn. Because of the severity of the symptoms, his parents did not believe this and took him to the hospital.

"The top layer of skin on the left side of his face was almost gone. It seemed like a really serious burn that had already peeled, "said his father, Justin Childress, in Times-Dispatch .

The teenager had actually developed second- and third-degree burns all over the face and arms because of the sap of the giant hogweed. He told people that when he first showered after the incident, "large pieces" of skin fell from his face.

The severity of the burns forced Childress to stay in the intensive care unit. the hospital for two days. Although he is in remission, healing could be a long frustrating process.

"I can not go outside in the sun for the next two to six months," he told People . My face could be sensitive to light for a year and maybe up to two years. "

He now fears being disqualified for an Army scholarship he received at Virginia Tech University, where he plans to continue his studies next fall.

Native to the Caucasus Mountains region of Asia, giant hogweed spread to Europe in the late 19th century and eventually to United States and Quebec through people who thought she was doing a pretty garden plant. Although its white flowers are sometimes reminiscent of harmless woolly hogweed or Daucus carota – also known as wild carrot – there are important differences, including the mbadive size of giant hogweed, which can reach 4 to 5 meters.

If your skin comes into contact with sap, here is what the Quebec government advises:

• remove the sap as quickly as possible with an absorbent paper, without rubbing it. It is indeed necessary to avoid extending the sap on the skin;
• rinse the surface of the skin with water and soap and wash your hands;
• take off your clothes and wash them for avoid contaminating other parts of your body or objects;
• avoid exposing affected areas of your skin to natural or artificial light. Wear gloves, pants, and a long-sleeved shirt for at least 48 hours. If you have burns, protect the affected area for one week,
• use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 for 6 months.

If the sap of the giant hogweed touch your eyes:

• rinse your eyes with plenty of water for at least 10 minutes
• wear sunglbades with dark lenses to avoid exposing your eyes to light
• see a doctor as soon as possible.

If you have burns on the skin:

1 ^and degree burns are superficial and generally do not require special treatment. If you have pain:

• Take a bath in cool water,
• make compresses and soak them in water. Apply the compresses on your burns for 20 minutes, 4 to 6 times a day.

If you have burns on 2 ^e degree, which are accompanied by blisters and blisters, call Info -Health 811 for more information on the treatment of burns. You can also consult your doctor, who can prescribe the appropriate treatment.