Overview Of Intradermal Injection

An intradermal injection is an injection given to a patient in which the goal is to empty the contents of the syringe between the layers of the skin. Often abbreviated ID, is a shallow or superficial injection of a substance into the dermis, which is located between the epidermis and the hypodermis. Medication injected into the dermis is absorbed slowly because of this skin layer's limited blood supply. Use is relatively rare compared to other parenteral administration.

Intradermal injection

Purpose Of Intradermal Injection

1. Vaccine

2. Tuberculose tests

3. Allergy test

Site For Intradermal Injection

These injections are normally given in the inner palm-side surface of the forearm, with the exception of the human diploid cell rabies vaccine, which is given in the deltoid muscle (upper back, under the shoulder blade). The dosage given is usually less than 0.5 mL.

Read Also: Overview Of Intravenous (IV) Administration

Equipment

1. Include syringes calibrated in tenths and hundredths of a milliliter

2. A 1⁄4-to-1⁄2-inch-long (6 to 13 mm) and 26 or 27 gauge thick needle

Intradermal Injection Methods

Intradermal injections can be delivered using either normal-sized needles (Mantoux technique) or devices specially designed for intradermal injection.

Procedure (Mantoux)

The patient is educated on the injection and procedure. All the equipment and drugs are gathered. The healthcare professional wash and wear hand gloves before proceeding.

The injection site is then rubbed vigorously with a swab, and disinfectant applied to cleanse the area and increase the blood supply. Using your nondominant thumb, apply downward pressure, directly below and outside the prepared injection site. (Do not draw the skin back or move the skin to the side because the skin will return to its normal position when pressure is released and will cause the needle bevel to either go deeper into the skin or to leave the skin, depending upon which direction the skin moves). Hold the skin taut. Using your dominant hand, hold the syringe with the bevel of the needle facing upwards and with fingers and thumb resting on the sides of the barrel. The needle is inserted into the skin, parallel with the forearm. 

If you insert the needle at a 20 degree angle, lower it at once to 15 degrees. The angle should be between 5-15 degrees.

Read Also: Overview Of Intramuscular (IM) Injection

It is not necessary to aspirate the syringe since no large vessels are commonly found in the superficial layer of the skin. Inject the medication. The syringe piston should then be pushed in steadily and slowly, releasing the solution into the layers of the skin. This will cause the layers of the skin to rise slightly (wheal). The appearance of a wheal indicates that the medication has entered the area between the intradermal tissues. If a wheal does not appear, withdraw the needle and repeat the procedure in another site. To withdraw the needle, quickly withdraw it at the same angle that it was inserted. Applied pressure to the site and swab again.

Specially designed intradermal injection devices are very easy to administer even without a professional. After educating the patient and gathering the drug and equipment, the site is swabbed with methylated spirit. with a nondominant thumb, apply downward pressure, directly below and outside the prepared injection site. Using the dominant finger, insert the injection. Withdraw the injection and applied pressure before finally swabbing.