What types of infections will doctors give you a shot in the butt for as opposed to in the arm or taking pills

Question

I was having a debate with a family member and she seems to think that doctors will only give you a shot in the butt if the infection is sexual transmitted. I thought they gave you a shot in the butt if they needed to give you a high dose of something strong, which was needed in this situation because the infection was affecting the entire body. Somebody help please!

Answer 1

In general, you get an injection if (1) it is important that there is no question that the patient gets the medication and (2) if the infection has progressed to the point where pills may not act quickly enough. As far as rule (1) goes, patients sometimes stop taking medications too early once their discomfort or other symptoms go away. So, for an STD, the doctor will want eliminate that as a worry and just give it to you in one dose. Rule (2) does not apply only to STDs -- you can sometimes get a skin infection -- cellulitis -- which can rapidly progress so you'll get an injection to get it under control quickly, and then take a regiman of oral antibiotics if the doctor believes it is necessary.

Answer 2

They only give you a shot in the butt if it has to be an intra-muscular shot with a large dose.

Answer 3

You are more correct than your relative, although I am sure she is associating the "shot in the butt" with penicillin shots for certain STDs, so I can see where she's getting the idea.

We give an injection of antibiotics IM when we need to give a large dose of medication that will disperse slowly in the body over time, so if we may not be able to count on the patient returning for follow-up, or if the patient prefers the shot to taking a couple of weeks of oral antibiotics or to being on an IV, we'll do it that way.  The butt (AKA gluteus maximus) provides a nice large muscle with not too much chance of hitting any major nerves or blood vessels if you aim right.

It's not so much that it needs to be systemic--any kind of administration will do that, and IV will do it more efficiently than anything else--but that it needs to be continuous over a period of time.

Answer 4

Sexually transmitted diseases can be treated with a shot in the butt; however, there are also by-mouth medications which are also used.  This is true for other infections as well.  There's a variety of ways to give antibiotics: IV, IM (into muscle), by mouth.  It's the physician who decides which mode of delivery would be the best and most effective.