Body art and pregnancy

Body art has gained tremendously in popularity over the past 20 years, and a substantial number of pregnant women may have tattoos or piercings. In most cases, pregnancy will be uneventful. However, on rare occasions, body art may become an issue or cause complications. Navel and abdominal surface piercing and microdermal implants may cause unsightly stretch marks from gravid distension. Nipple piercing could impair breastfeeding. In emergency situations, oral piercing may interfere with airway management and nasal jewelry can be inhaled or swallowed during orotracheal intubation. Tattoos may become distorted if placed on a distended area or they may cover surgical incision lines. The risk of introducing tattoo pigments during epidural analgesia, with the potential for tumor growth, is currently under debate, although the arguments are highly speculative and without solid basis.

Incidence and risk factors for community-acquired hepatitis C infection from birth to 5 years of age in rural Egyptian children

A prospective study in three Egyptian villages (A, B and C) having a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection examined incidence of community-acquired HCV infection in children; 2852 uninfected infants were prospectively followed from birth for up to 5.5 years. Fifteen seroconverted for either HCV antibodies and/or HCV-RNA (incidence of 0.53%). Ten had both anti-HCV and HCV-RNA; four had only anti-HCV; and one had HCV-RNA in the absence of antibody. The incidence rate at all ages was 2.7/1000 person-years (PY). It was 3.8/1000 PY during infancy and 2.0/1000 PY for the 1-5-years age group. Hospitalization and low birth weight increased the risk of infection; while living in village B, the family having a higher socioeconomic status, and advanced maternal education were protective. Six of eight HCV-infected infants reported iatrogenic exposures (e.g. hospitalization, therapeutic injections, ear piercing) prior to infection whereas only 2/7 children older than 1 year reported these exposures. Having an HCV-positive mother was the only other reported risk in two of these older children. The virus cleared in six (40%) children by the end of follow-up. Health education targeting iatrogenic exposures and focusing on risk factors could reduce HCV infection in children in high-risk populations.

Complications following oral piercing. A study among 201 young adults in Strasbourg, France

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to identify and quantify the number and type of complications relating to the oral environment following piercing of tissue in the oral sphere.

METHODS

The epidemiological survey included patients attending the University of Strasbourg Dental Hospital, students frequenting the University of Strasbourg canteen, and members of the public attending piercing conferences in Strasbourg, France between the months of February and June 2005. No dental examination was performed as part of this survey. RESULTS; 201 people were interviewed in this study. The average subject age was 22.7 years and 73.6% were smokers. Women comprised 72.6% of the sample population. Post-piercing complications occurred in 23.4%, but frequency depended on piercing location in relation to the oral sphere. Gingival recession occurred in 8.5%, and chipped teeth in 6.9% of the group who were aware of complications. Titanium, stainless steel and Teflon were associated with recession in 52.9%, 23.5% and 9%, and chipped teeth in 35.7%, 42.9% and 14.3% of this group respectively.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of complications was high. There is a need for public education and a further study with a dental examination.

Complications of tongue piercing: a review of the literature and three case reports

AIM

The aims of this review of the literature are to offer further insights into possible problems related to tongue piercing and present three case reports showing undesired effects of tongue piercing.

BACKGROUND

From a dental perspective, oral piercings and especially tongue piercings are not a harmless fashion trend since they can be associated with local and systemic risks and complications. A search of the literature was conducted to investigate the documentation of health risks associated with tongue piercing using the MEDLINE database as well as the German literature.

REVIEW RESULTS

The literature contains numerous case reports, a limited number of studies, and a review describing a wide variety of complications, especially in patients who have undergone tongue piercing. In the majority of cases, the piercing of the tongue is performed in the midline. Piercings are made of different materials, usually metal or synthetic materials. Complications during piercing, immediately following piercing, as well as long term were found.

CONCLUSION

The three cases presented here demonstrate some of those adverse effects. The most commonly described oral complication is the damage of teeth and the periodontium caused by tongue piercings. Tongue piercing is a personal decision, but it is important that patients are fully aware of possible oral health hazards.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Patients need better information on the potential complications associated with tongue piercing. Dental practitioners should educate patients about potential side effects and possible oral, dental, and systemic complications.

A new risk factor for infective endocarditis

Body piercing has become an increasingly common practice in recent decades, especially among young people. However, it is not a completely safe procedure and may have serious complications such as infective endocarditis, which can occur in individuals with or without previous heart disease. In this paper we report a case of endocarditis after body piercing in a young woman with a pacemaker who needed surgical intervention. We also review cases of endocarditis after piercing described in the literature. Now that the recommendations of the American Heart Association for prophylaxis of infective endocarditis are more restricted, we discuss the need for inclusion of body piercings among procedures requiring prophylactic therapy in high-risk individuals.

[Cutaneous adverse reactions to tattoos and piercings]

Piercings and tattoos have become very popular in western society in recent decades, particularly among younger generations. Reports of medical complications associated with these decorative techniques have increased in parallel with the rise in their popularity. Due to their high frequency, adverse cutaneous reactions are particularly important among these potential complications. Tattoo-related complications include a number of cutaneous and systemic infections secondary to breach of the epidermal barrier, acute and delayed inflammatory reactions with different histopathological patterns, the appearance of benign and malignant tumors on tattooed areas of skin, and certain dermatoses triggered by isomorphic phenomena. Piercing-related complications are similar, though some, such as pyogenic skin infections, are much more common due to the delayed wound healing after piercing in certain sites. We must differentiate between complications that are independent of the site of piercing, and specific complications, which are closely related to the body area pierced. The rate of complications after performing piercings or tattoos depends on the experience of the artist, the hygiene techniques applied, and the postprocedural care by the customer. However, some of these complications are unpredictable and depend on factors intrinsic to the patient. In this article, we review the most common decorative techniques of body art, with particular focus on the potential cutaneous complications and their management.

Body piercing: more than skin deep

Young adult populations (18-25 years of age) throughout the world have latched onto the mainstream trend of body piercing. Best health care practices for these individuals involves the knowledge of proper procedural techniques, postsite care, common complications, and treatment modalities.

A case of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis after ear piercing in a patient with normal cardiac valve and a questionnaire survey on adverse events of body piercing in college students of Korea

Body piercing in young adults is on the rise in western countries and also in Korea. It is usually practised by non-medical persons, and therefore frequently entails local adverse events. Serious complications, such as septic arthritis or infective endocarditis, are occasionally reported, but infective endocarditis in patients with normal cardiac valve is rare. We experienced a case of acute S. aureus endocarditis after ear piercing. Thereafter we studied the status and complications of body piercing in college students of Korea based on a questionnaire survey, and revealed that the rate of ear piercing is high (96.5%) and 61.3% of the pierced persons experience local complications.

A fatal case of Staphylococcus aureus: Associated toxic shock syndrome following nipple piercing

We describe a case of a healthy adolescent with a fatal toxic shock syndrome due to Staphylococcus aureus. This infection developed 2 weeks after the patient underwent a nipple piercing by a friend. This case should serve as a strong reminder of the potentially fatal consequences of piercing that is becoming increasingly popular worldwide.

[The new IADT guidelines for dental trauma management: an introduction for the Israeli dentist]

Dental trauma is, unfortunately, not uncommon in the Israeli population. High risk populations include children, sport participants, military personnel and patients with oral (tongue) and/or lip piercing. In 2007, the International Association of Dental Trauma (IADT) updated the guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries. This paper is aimed to discuss and present the new guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries and to offer some highlights to the Israeli dental population. Good prognosis of injured teeth largely depends on prompt and appropriate management. Thus, it is important for healthcare-givers, especially dental practitioners, to maintain an adequate level of updated knowledge.

[Piercing, between health and asthetics]

Skin piercings continues to be a growing socially accepted phenomenon. The nursing profession needs to modify and increase its knowledge in order to adequately respond to this new situation. The nursing profession must learn what are the legal parameters which regulate skin piercing, what type of health education should be applied regarding skin piercing, what limits exist when carrying out skin piercing on patients, what prior- and post-piercing treatments are required, as well as the possible complications which may occur due to skin piercing and how to deal with those complications once they arise.

[Oral jewelry: a review]

Oral jewelry is popular. One of the most widely spread types are so-called tooth diamonds made of composite materials which are applied to the teeth with an adhesive. Note that parents are required to sign a release form for under-aged patients in Switzerland. Tooth cap grills and gold teeth are considered status symbols within the Hip-Hop fashion scene. However, tooth ornaments favour the accumulation of plaque and can diminish the ability to articulate. With respect to jewelry in oral soft tissue especially tongue and lip piercings are of significance to dentists. Besides the systemic complications, which are mostly caused by a lack of hygiene or the failure of noting medical contraindications by the piercer, local complications occur frequently. After surgery, pain, swelling, infections as well as hemorrhages or hematomas can be observed. Long-term effects can be problematic: gingival recession can be discernes mainly in the case of lip piercings the loss of hard tooth substance in the case of tongue piercings. Because of that, conservation therapies can become indespensable. Patients wearing dental jewelry have to be aware of risks of tooth damage, and they regularly have to undergo dental check-ups. Information campaigns--for dentists as well as patients--are necessary.

Oral piercing complications among teenage students

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess the use of oral piercings and their possible associated complications among students aged 14 to 18 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 927 students from private and state schools were invited to participate in this study. The participants were subjected to clinical examination, and a questionnaire was provided for collecting the following data: gender, piercing location, oral complications or alterations, and cleaning frequency.

RESULTS

Among the students who were analysed, 33 had oral piercings (3.6%); 69.70% were from state schools and 30.30% were from private schools. There was a slight predominance of males (54.55%) compared with females (45.45%). The tongue was the most common location for piercing (66.6%). The complications and alterations associated with the use of piercing were observed in 74.3% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In the population that was studied, oral piercing was observed in a small percentage of teenage students (3.6%) and there were local complications associated with its use.