Allergic Reaction in Anatomy Lab

[abrew13]

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Hello! I am a first year, second semester veterinary student, looking for advice from other veterinary students/veterinary professionals who have experienced this same issue.

Last semester, I took small animal anatomy and its associated lab. We spent 6 hours a week in the lab (not including outside studying), and I never had an issue in the lab.

This semester I am taking large animal anatomy and its associated lab, with 4 hours spent in lab a week (not including outside studying). This morning my study group went into the lab to review before class, and within 20 minutes I was having a pretty nice allergic reaction. I’m talking facial swelling so bad I had to go to urgent care and get a steroid shot and an antihistamine, even after taking a Benadryl. While the urgent care doctor, my professor, and I aren’t entirely sure what caused it, it was clearly something in the lab. My best guess is contact sensitization to formaldehyde, which then got on my face somehow and caused this reaction.

My question is, has anyone else had a similar reaction or had classmates with similar reactions, and how did you/they get through anatomy lab? Avoiding the lab is not a possibility (nor would I want to), so I am trying to figure out my best next steps. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[JaynaAli]

My friend had a contact allergy to the preservatives in our dog. Not as dramatic as yours, she mostly got itchy and a rash, but we just worked out a system where she would hold/read the book, tell us what to do, and other people would actually do the tissue handling and dissections. She didn’t touch the specimens at all. Exams were hands off anyway and she did fine in the course despite not wielding the scalpel herself.

 

[pp9]

Hello! I am a first year, second semester veterinary student, looking for advice from other veterinary students/veterinary professionals who have experienced this same issue.

Last semester, I took small animal anatomy and its associated lab. We spent 6 hours a week in the lab (not including outside studying), and I never had an issue in the lab.

This semester I am taking large animal anatomy and its associated lab, with 4 hours spent in lab a week (not including outside studying). This morning my study group went into the lab to review before class, and within 20 minutes I was having a pretty nice allergic reaction. I’m talking facial swelling so bad I had to go to urgent care and get a steroid shot and an antihistamine, even after taking a Benadryl. While the urgent care doctor, my professor, and I aren’t entirely sure what caused it, it was clearly something in the lab. My best guess is contact sensitization to formaldehyde, which then got on my face somehow and caused this reaction.

My question is, has anyone else had a similar reaction or had classmates with similar reactions, and how did you/they get through anatomy lab? Avoiding the lab is not a possibility (nor would I want to), so I am trying to figure out my best next steps. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I have a latex allergy (blood vessels are filled with dyed latex) and I had issues throughout anatomy lab. I'd consider seeing an allergist if you can. In the meantime, wear a lot of PPE whether you dissect or your group does. My concern with formaldehyde, if that is the allergen, is that you'll be breathing it in constantly and have much higher exposure than I did to the latex. I'd be concerned about it progressing to anaphylaxis if your first reaction was this severe. My latex allergy did exactly this and I earned myself an epi-pen (this happened before vet school).

Alternatively, you could also be allergic to the species you are dissecting. Either way, I'd still see an allergist if you can. If they can't pinpoint the cause, they can at least give you meds to have on hand in the event of an emergency. I also couldn't really take a backseat in my lab group with the amount of dissecting UofI had us doing weekly, so it was comforting to know that I had pred and an epi-pen in my backpack.

I wore double gloves, sleeves (which was gross but necessary) and a mask throughout lab. In my case, the latex in this context is not aerosolized to the degree that formaldehyde or animal dander is, so I didn't need a respirator. For formaldehyde or severe animal allergies, you might need to consider that.

 

[Musicandhorses]

Hello! I am a first year, second semester veterinary student, looking for advice from other veterinary students/veterinary professionals who have experienced this same issue.

Last semester, I took small animal anatomy and its associated lab. We spent 6 hours a week in the lab (not including outside studying), and I never had an issue in the lab.

This semester I am taking large animal anatomy and its associated lab, with 4 hours spent in lab a week (not including outside studying). This morning my study group went into the lab to review before class, and within 20 minutes I was having a pretty nice allergic reaction. I’m talking facial swelling so bad I had to go to urgent care and get a steroid shot and an antihistamine, even after taking a Benadryl. While the urgent care doctor, my professor, and I aren’t entirely sure what caused it, it was clearly something in the lab. My best guess is contact sensitization to formaldehyde, which then got on my face somehow and caused this reaction.

My question is, has anyone else had a similar reaction or had classmates with similar reactions, and how did you/they get through anatomy lab? Avoiding the lab is not a possibility (nor would I want to), so I am trying to figure out my best next steps. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Yes I’m allergic to formalin. They realized this after I got pneumonia while a first year vet student taking equine anatomy. I wore a mask for anatomy and I put things under the hood during research. Wear gloves. That’s what helped me but not sure about others with similar things