Possible problems with body piercing - House call: expert advice on health and fitness - Brief Article

Q Help! My teenage son wants to get his navel pierced, and been trying to discourage him. Can you outline the problems he might face as a result of going through with this procedure?

H.D., Silver Spring, Md.

A First, he should know that many people make negative value judgments about people who have body piercings. From a medical standpoint, each piercing site has its own potential problems that can develop, ranging from infection to allergic reactions to the formation of scar tissue. Doctors say, in addition to possible blood infections, body piercing can also result in the transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, syphilis and HIV.

If you have questions about health and fitness, send them to the HOUSE CALL, EBONY, 820 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605. Answers to all questions are checked with a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for individual, professional medical treatment. Because of the volume of mail received, we cannot give personal replies.

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