Allergy Shots in the Leg? Abdomen?

It is not uncommon that we have patients that ask if allergy shots can be administered in the leg (or other part of the body) rather than the usual behind the upper arm.

Before we answer that question, let's ask why we given it in the upper arm in the first place!

1) Easy to access
2) Easy to monitor for any adverse reaction
3) All the good studies done are based on injections administered to the upper arm
4) No good studies performed determining whether injections done at other body sites has equal efficacy to the arm.
5) If anaphylaxis occurs, a tourniquet can be easily applied to the arm proximal to the injection site which theoretically would decrease allergen traveling systemically

Given these answers, is it possible to give allergy shots in other body locations other than the arm?

Yes... BUT...

1) No good studies performed determining whether injections done at other body sites has equal efficacy to the arm.

2) If anaphylaxis occurs, may not be possible to apply a tourniquet easily (if given in the abdomen for example)

3) May not be as easy to monitor for a reaction (if given in the buttocks for example)

SO...

It is recommended that allergy shots be given in the upper arm and not other locations.

Reference:

Ask the expert. AAAAI 2/6/12

RANDOM: Media Confuses PA Students with Med Students in Medical Error

So I read this disturbing news report on MSNBC titled "Needle error puts 50 people at risk in N.M." where "MED" students improperly pricked multiple patients while testing blood sugar during a health fair.

Later in the article, the story stated "Students from UNM's physician assistant program conducted the free blood sugar tests during the cultural center's American Indian Week Pueblo Days."

I should hope that a reputable news media outlet like MSNBC understands that a med student and a PA student are NOT the same thing.

A PA student is a student learning to become a physician assistant and does not obtain a MD degree at the end.

Read the full story here.

New Webpage on Cauliflower Ear/Auricular Hematoma

Tis the time of year when auricular hematoma is common with high school wrestling. Just in the past 3 weeks, our office had to treat 4 ear hematomas in order to prevent cauliflower ear formation. Given how common it is based on the season, a new webpage has been created describing this condition and how it can be treated.

Check it out here!