Implications of venom hypersensitivity for a deploying soldier

Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is a life-saving medical treatment for individuals allergic to Hymenoptera species. Delivery of VIT is a complex process that requires proper extract preparation, shipping, storage, refrigeration, and administration by qualified medical personnel in a facility that can manage a life-threatening allergic emergency (anaphylaxis). Successful VIT requires 3 to 5 years of uninterrupted maintenance injections, which may be difficult to maintain during deployments, particularly in combat operations. The complexity of VIT has resulted in service members being deemed nondeployable and has led to interruption or discontinuation of VIT for deployed service members in the past. We report the case of a 34-year-old Army National Guard soldier who successfully received maintenance VIT while deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom. This case demonstrates that, with proper coordination and appropriate risk assessment, continuation of complex medical care, such as VIT, can be supported in a combat zone.