Piercing problems for 'one in five'

The majority of students had some sort of piercing

Almost a fifth of students who had a part of their body pierced experienced medical complications, a study has found.

A survey of US undergraduates found over half had had some sort of piercing.

Seventeen per cent of those had some sort of problem, most commonly a bacterial infection, it was found.

Bleeding and injury or tearing around the piercing were also common.

Piercing can cause a range of problems, including serious bleeding from the punctures and the creation of excess scar tissue.

Just under a quarter of students had a tattoo

But, if the piercer uses non-sterile equipment, people are also at risk of life-threatening infections such as hepatitis C, HIV or septicaemia.

The authors say this is the first study of the prevalence of body piercing and tattooing amongst undergraduate students.

They add that if their findings are representative for that age group as a whole, the complications represent a significant cost for the health service.

Navel 'top piercing site'

Researchers surveyed 454 undergraduates at Pace University, Pleasantville, New York between February and May, 2001.

It was found 51% had some sort of piercing.

In female students, the most popular site apart from ear lobes was the navel (29%), followed by other parts of the ears, 27%.

In male students, the ear was the most popular place for a piercing, with 31% having a piercing there.

There is significant incidence of medical complications among students with piercing

Dr Lester Mayers, Pace University

The survey, reported in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings also found 23% of students had tattoos, but none had experienced complications.

However, the researchers said it might be too early to detect possible complications such as hepatitis B or C, or HIV.

In addition, some complications may have been missed because the study relied on self-reporting by the students, they said.

Dr Lester Mayers, of the Pace University Athletic Department's Division of Sports Medicine, lead author of the study, said: "Body art is prevalent among undergraduate university students, and there is significant incidence of medical complications among students with piercing.

"If our prevalence and complication rates are representative for this age group, these morbid events comprise a considerable demand on and cost to the heath care system."

UK legislation planned

Dee May, infection control advisor for the Royal College of Nursing told BBC News Online said the college backed the extension of the more stringent controls employed in London.

She added the RCN was to publish a factsheet aimed at young people planning to have a piercing.

Ms May said advice on how to look after a piercing, particularly if it was in the navel where there is a high risk of infection, was also important.

"Infections do not just occur as a result of the piercing, it's how they manage the aftercare too," she said.

In a 1999 UK survey, GPs in Bury and Rochdale found half of all local piercing centres left people with problems which needed medical attention.

Ninety-five per cent said they had seen patients with a complication resulting from a piercing.

In the UK, only London Boroughs have any powers to inspect body piercers.

Outside the capital, they simply have to register and abide by any local bylaws.

The Department of Health has said legislation to bring the rest of the country in line with London is planned, but its timing depends on when parliamentary time could be set aside for the issue.