Exposure to the wild parsnip plant (Pastinia sativa) is most likely to present with what clinical manifestation? What is the purported mechanism of injury?
Wild parsnip is a common plant found throughout the majority of the Northern US and Canada, and is often mistaken from Queen Anne’s lace. When touched, chemical compounds including furocoumarins are deposited on the skin. These may eventually interact with UV light and oxygen, leading to a painful blistering rash that results from oxidative damage to the skin. Care is usually supportive, but it is important to counsel patients that the rash may take some time to dissipate and lead to long term discoloration.
Walling AL et al. Phytophotodermatitis induced by wild parsnip. Dermatology Online Journal 2018; 24(2): 19
Contributed by: Joe Kennedy, MD on behalf of University of Vermont Medical Toxicology