Warnings issued about plant that causes blisters, burns and scarring

Parents are being warned to keep their children away from a highly toxic weed that is invading the Irish countryside.

Giant Hogweed is a non-native plant species that grows abundantly along the banks of rivers and streams. Inland Fisheries Ireland say that the highly toxic weed is a human health hazard and is exerting a negative ecological impact around bodies of water, the countryside, and in Irish gardens. The stems of the plant (also commonly known as wild parsnip) can grow to more than two metres in height and its poisonous sap causes a condition called phytophotodermatitis in humans, resulting in blisters and long-lasting scars. These serious reactions are due to chemicals found in the leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds of the tall plant. Crumlin mum Lorraine Jewell recently shared pictures of her daughter Ellie’s blistered arm, after she suffered third degree burns as a result of coming into contact with the invasive weed. Lorraine told the Echo newspaper that what began as a small cluster of blisters, grew painful and ended in a trip to Our Lady’s Hospital:

"Ellie woke up with blisters on Thursday morning. She wasn’t too worried about them but after coming home that afternoon, they had grown in size. Overnight they kept getting bigger and she said she felt weak and feverish."

Medics put Ellie on a course of antibiotics and burst the painful blisters:

"She was in a lot of a pain until Sunday and her smaller blisters continued to grow. We might have to see a plastic surgeon because she could be left with scars. I just want people to be aware. I’d never even heard of this plant before. Hogweed is meant to grow mainly in the summer, and that’s the time when children are off of school for eight weeks and are getting up to mischief."

Giant Hogweed (Heracleum Mentagazzanium), aka wild parship grows up to 20 feet in height. Botanists say that the toxic herbaceous, biennial plant has invaded the Northeast and Pacific Northwestern United States, and Northern Europe.

Experts caution that Giant Hogweed should not be confused with similar looking plants such as cow parsley which also has white flowers but is much smaller and non-toxic.