Although being submerged in the outdoors and nature is essential for their wellbeing, there are some dangers no parent should be too complacent about. In this case – Giant Hogweed.
Although it might look like a pretty and elegant plant that could surely cause no harm, it in fact caused 2-year-old Lexi Buchanan severe chemical blisters and burns.
According to Wales Online, Lexi’s mum Jamie wanted to warn other parents of the potential dangers. She said:
“We went out over to the river to walk the dog like we normally do. The next day she went to playgroup and they asked if she had a burn.”
“When we took her to the hospital the next morning the doctors said she had touched Giant Hogweed. She was not using her hand very much and was feeling a bit sorry for herself.”
The highly toxic outdoor plant had likely caused Lexi much discomfort, as its burn can be incredibly painful. Although Lexi’s burns will heal, hogweed can cause scarring that can last for years and even cause blindness if a child rubs their eyes with the plant’s sap on their hands.
The toxic sap contains chemicals known as furanocoumarins, which react badly when skin is exposed to UV light. It causes a condition known as phytophotodermatitis – a rash that leads to very severe burns within a day.
The plant that is originally from the Caucasus has been growing quickly throughout Britain thanks to the warm weather and is regularly spotted in Ireland too. It’s large and tall, reaching a height of 5 meters, and boasts very misleading pretty, white flowers. It is almost always found by a river or fresh water source.
If anyone should come in contact with Giant Hogweed, they should cover the skin area after washing it with soap and water. If it worsens at all, consult your doctor.
