Which of the following is the reason for intradermal injection to be used for testing allergic reaction?

Daman & Diu Staff Nurse - 2018

Nursing Foundation

Hard

Appeared in: Daman & Diu Staff Nurse - 2018

Explanation

Intradermal injections are administered into the dermis, which has a limited blood supply.
This poor vascularity results in the slowest absorption time of all parenteral routes.
Slow absorption is advantageous for allergy testing because it allows the body's reaction to the substance to remain localized and easily visible.
This localization prevents a rapid systemic reaction, which could be dangerous for the patient.
The visible local reaction (wheal and flare) can be observed and measured to determine the degree of sensitivity.

Option A: Intradermal injections are often described as causing a slight burning or stinging sensation and can be more painful than other types of injections due to the sensitivity of the skin layers.
Option B: Administering an intradermal injection requires significant skill to ensure the needle is inserted at the correct shallow angle (5-15 degrees) to form a bleb (a small blister). It is generally considered more difficult than a subcutaneous or intramuscular injection.
Option C: This is the opposite of what occurs. The dermis has a poor blood supply, leading to very slow absorption and diffusion, not rapid.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Rationale for using the intradermal injection route for allergy testing as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Patient safety is paramount during allergy testing. The slow absorption of the intradermal route is a key safety feature that minimizes the risk of anaphylaxis.
Nurses must be prepared for a potential systemic reaction. Emergency equipment, including epinephrine, antihistamines, and resuscitation supplies, must be immediately available whenever allergy testing is performed.
Accurate technique is crucial. If the injection is given too deep (subcutaneously), the absorption will be faster, and the test result will be invalid and potentially dangerous.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the reason behind using a specific medical procedure (intradermal injection) for a specific purpose (allergy testing).
Analyze the procedure: Recall the characteristics of an intradermal injection. Where is it given? (Into the dermis). What is the key physiological property of that tissue layer? (Limited blood supply).
Connect the procedure to the purpose: How does the limited blood supply of the dermis affect the injected substance (allergen)? It leads to slow absorption.
Evaluate the options based on this physiological principle. Why would slow absorption be desirable for allergy testing? It allows for a controlled, local reaction and prevents a dangerous systemic one.
Eliminate the incorrect options: 'Less painful' and 'easy to administer' are subjective and not the primary medical rationale. 'Diffuses rapidly' is factually incorrect and would be dangerous.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Rationale for using the intradermal injection route for allergy testing.
Stem keywords: intradermal injection, allergic reaction, testing
Lead-in keywords: reason for
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 859-861

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 p. 200-202