When Piercings Go Wrong
"If left untreated, simple infections of the skin and soft tissue can get into the bloodstream resulting in the patient getting very ill," Dr. Russak explained. The symptoms include fevers, chills, malaise, and night sweats. Even scarier, Dr. Russak told me, "When infections progress this far without proper medical care, a visit to the emergency room or hospital may become necessary so the infection can be treated with IV antibiotics." Yikes.
Dr. Russak said the most common infections she sees when it comes to piercings are wound infections that occur at the site. "There are needles and blood, so if the facility does not utilise sound sterilisation techniques, then we also worry about other blood-borne infections such as hepatitis and HIV," she continued. To prevent any kind of infection, it's important to do research beforehand to ensure your piercings are done in a safe, sterile environment by an experienced professional.
Piercing infections are no joke. Here's how to avoid to avoid this type of painful piercing tale.