Beware the giant hogweed this summer!
Posted: 19th June 2018 | Posted by Costa
Beware the giant hogweed this summer!
What may be self-diagnosed as an acute allergic reaction could be a result of the harmless looking, yet dangerous, giant hogweed plant. For people who come into contact with it, this plant can cause serious health problems. Unfortunately, the hot summer months are only likely to allow this weed to thrive in the UK.
As the summer firmly sets in, experts warn, do not touch this plant. More and more reports are reaching the news of unsuspecting individuals, particularly children, coming into contact with giant hogweed and experiencing a variety of painful allergy-like symptoms. When you are out enjoying nature this summer, you should be aware of what giant hogweed is, and the problems it causes. You don’t want to mistake them for an allergic reaction and seek the wrong medical treatment.
How to spot giant hogweed
The tricky thing with giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is that it can easily be mistaken for common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium), cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), elderflower (Sambucus nigra), and wild carrot (Daucus carota). Despite this, there are ways to tell it apart. Giant hogweed is much larger than these native plants. It can grow up to 6 metres tall and sometimes spans around one metre. The flower heads often reach 60cm, and giant hogweed is distinct due to its purple-hued stem, spotted leaf stalks, and thin spines. If you see a plant that looks like this, avoid it.
Giant hogweed usually grows along riverbanks, verges, and footpaths. It has also been spotted in parks and cemeteries in the UK. But, originally, giant hogweed comes from central Asia. It’s classed as an invasive species, as it is non-native and can cause harm to other species and human health. It was brought here as a domesticated plant, but now it has escaped into the wild, it is causing menacing symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms resulting from contact with the sap of giant hogweed may appear very similar to an allergic reaction. The sap is phototoxic and can cause photodermatitis. This means skin becomes sensitive to sunlight, and exposure to the sun causes blisters and scarring. This scarring in extreme cases can last years. All it takes for the sap to make its mark is a simple touch or brush past the plant. The sap also causes severe burns and skin inflammation in less than 24 hours.
The relatively fast development of these symptoms may be what leads people to mistake them for an allergic reaction, especially if they are not aware of any contact with the damaging sap. In some of the worst cases, when sap comes into contact with the eyes, it can cause blindness. Blisters and rashes can become infected leading to more serious health issues. And, it is possible to have a genuine allergic reaction to giant hogweed.
If you are sure the symptoms you are experiencing are not due to giant hogweed, but you are still unsure of the cause, it is time to book an appointment with a specialist consultant. At London Allergy and Immunology Centre, we can test for over 100 different allergies at once to diagnose your symptoms and find the most effective treatments. Call us today on 02031 433 449.