Body Piercing Complications in England
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[edit] England
According to a BMJ study among adults 16+ in England:
"Complications were reported in 27.5% (24.8% to 30.3% in 95% CI) piercings, with problems thought serious enough to seek further help in 12.9% (10.8% to 15.2%)."
"The most common problems reported with piercings in those aged 16-24 were swelling, infection, and bleeding. Problems were most likely to be reported with tongue piercings (50%), followed by piercings of the genitals (45%) and nipple (38%). Help was most likely to be sought for piercings of the genitals (45%), followed by the nipple (25%) and tongue (24%). At the more unusual sites such as genitals, however, the estimated percentage of piercings resulting in a complication is not precise because of the small numbers of piercings identified. Although not significantly different, piercings performed by a friend or relation, a non-specialist shop, or a mobile piercer, seemed more likely to result in a complication than piercings performed in a specialist piercing/tattooing shop. Serious complications that resulted in a hospital admission were significantly more likely to occur with piercings performed by a non-specialist (3.0%, 0.7% to 11.9%) than with piercings performed by someone at a specialist piercing or tattooing shop (0.5%, 0.1% to 2.0%). Help was sought most often from pharmacists, piercers, and general practitioners. Almost one in every 100 piercings in this age group resulted in a hospital admission."
[edit] University Undergraduates in the US
Medical complications reported by the 229 pierced students included 7 (3%) suffering local trauma, 11 (4.5%) with bleeding, and 21 (9%) with bacterial infection. The overall incidence was 17%. No complicating viral infections were reported. Of 47 individuals with pierced tongues, 3 (10%) reported subsequent oral or dental injury. Ear piercing complications among 150 students included bleeding in 4 (3%), local trauma in 3 (2%), and bacterial infection in 11 (7%). The total complication rate for ear piercing was 12%. Nose-pierced students reported 1 instance of bleeding (20%), but 4 (80%) of 5 had removed the piercing by the time of the survey. Nipple piercing, reported by 21 students, resulted in a 21% incidence of bleeding/injury. Navel piercing, reported by 76 students, was complicated by 2 injuries (3%), 6 instances of bleeding (8%), and 10 bacterial infections (13%). Genital piercing was accompanied by 1 instance of injury/bleeding among 7 subjects (14%).
[edit] Sources
England: BMJ study "Body piercing in England: a survey of piercing at sites other than earlobe". See study for breakdown of demographics and more information about methodology.
US undergraduates: Mayo Clinic study "Prevalence of Body Art (Body Piercing and Tattooing) in University Undergraduates and Incidence of Medical Complications"
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/the-complications-of-body-piercing/
