June 24, 2008
Increase in body piercings causes headaches for health providers
Doctors should prepare for the consequences as piercing of body parts other than earlobes gains in popularity, according to a government-sponsored study in the UK.
About one in ten adults has had something other than an earlobe or two pierced, the study found. Navels were the most common site (reported by one teen girl in three, with complications in one-third of those cases). Oral piercings are on the increase.
A startling one piercing in ten took place outside a specialist piercing shop. There was at least one report of piercing by self or a friend for every body part mentioned in the study, including nipples and genitals.
One body piercing in 100 ended in hospitalization.
These data confirm and expand on similar results from the United States.
Related searches
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Research/Reviews
There are numerous reports about the risks that body piercing may cause viral hepatitis.
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Adolescent, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Uncategorized | Tagged: body piercing, hepatitis, tattoos | 
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Posted by smnewsletters
November 1, 2007
Given after exposure, the hepatitis A vaccine provides as much protection against hepatitis A as immune globulin, according to a new randomized study in the New England Journal of Medicine. An accompanying editorial says the vaccine may be preferable to the immune globulin. It is no more expensive, easier to administer, more widely available, and effective longer.
The study validates new recommendations from the CDC issued last June. Those at high risk of liver disease after contracting HepA—people under one year old or older than 40 and those with chronic liver disease—should still receive immune globulin.
The number of hepatitis A cases in the US plummeted to less than 4,000 last year, thanks to herd immunity after introduction of the vaccine.
Practical Articles and News
What are the contraindications to using this vaccine?
Practice Management
What are the CPT codes for hepatitis A?
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Family Medicine, Internal Medicine | Tagged: hepatitis, vaccine | 
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Posted by Cranky Aged Mama
