Tattoos and Hepatitis

Tattoos are increasingly becoming fashionable these days amongst the youth population. Displaying tattoos and highlighting tattoo culture is a popular trend in society today. While these tattoos help the younger generation to express their thoughts and emotions through body art, it strongly carries the risk of catching an infection. This is more likely if the artist who does it does not adopt the required safety measures.

One of the potential threats from tattoos is getting Hepatitis which is a disease caused by inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis and Gastroenterology, thus, have a strong connection as the liver functioning gets hampered by this infection and it needs careful diagnosis and treatment by Gastro-care doctor.

Interestingly, research also reveals that there is a strong inter-relation between tattoos and one type of Hepatitis, Hepatitis C. Many patients who have Hepatitis C are likely to have tattoos on their bodies. Hepatitis C can also occur when the blood of a person infected with its virus is transmitted to someone who is not infected. This may happen largely by:

• Sharing needles, syringes or equipment to prepare or inject drugs or fluids like tattoo ink
• Needlestick injuries in tattoo studios or healthcare settings like diagnostic labs

Acute Hepatitis C can occur within six months of being exposed to the virus. It can be a short-term illness but if not treated on time, it can lead to Chronic Hepatitis C which is a life-long condition. Unfortunately, there are no effective vaccinations available to prevent Hepatitis C. 

Symptoms of Hepatitis

• Fatigue
• Joint and Muscular pain
• Feeling of Nausea
• Headache
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Appetite Loss
• Pain in the abdomen
• Changes in taste

This infection results in a raise of bilirubin levels, which is a pigment produced by the liver by breaking down red blood corpuscles. This can cause

• Jaundice due to the yellowing of the skin and eyes
• Darkening of urine
• Pale or clay coloured stools

Hepatitis Treatment
Acute Hepatitis is usually an asymptomatic condition that can be treated with lifestyle changes like taking plenty of rest, consuming a lot of fluids, maintaining optimal body weight and avoiding alcohol and fatty foods. Doctors may prescribe certain medications like corticosteroids or direct-acting anti-viral drugs to combat the viral infection. However, Chronic Hepatitis can lead to major liver damage in the advanced stages calling for a surgical liver transplant.

Precautions to be taken for Tattoos
There are many chances for the transmission of Hepatitis C and other infections when poor hygiene and infection-inhibiting practices are used when piercing or tattooing is done. Usually, such diseases spread through informal settings and unlicensed and non-commercial tattoo facilities. Hence, the following precautions may be taken while tattooing:

• Check whether the tattoo parlour and the artist are legally licensed and certified according to the prevailing healthcare regulations to carry on this business.
• Ensure that the tattoo artist washes the hands thoroughly before and after they sketch the tattoos. They must also wear a new pair of gloves for each of their customers.
• Make sure that the tattooing equipment is well sterilized using chemicals or heat to kill the bacteria and viruses. Merely cleaning the instrument by wiping it is not sufficient for making it foolproof from infectious diseases.
• Request the work area in the tattoo studio to be cleaned properly and all surfaces to be sterilized too. The tattoo needle may get infected due to exposure from germs on the surfaces and other equipment.

In summary, though getting tattooed can be an exciting proposition, it must be done with sufficient care to prevent infectious illnesses like Hepatitis. Neglecting it can lead to serious health problems like liver damage, cancer, fibrosis, liver cirrhosis (liver scarring) and even fatality! So please consult the Gastro surgeon if the above symptoms are severe or persist. For knowing more about Hepatitis and other Gastrointestinal problems treatment, please contact us.