Hepatitis

There have been reported cases of hepatitis transmitted to tattoo clients. Unsanitary conditions at the tattoo establishment are to blame when this occurs. There have also been cases of syphilis, leprosy and TB transmitted through tattooing. But these incidences are rare, except for perhaps hepatitis C.

Hepatitis B is spread through contact with blood or bodily fluids of an infected person; it is not spread by casual contact. It is a virus that attacks the liver. Most adults get it, then get better -- this condition is known as acute Hepatitis B.

Long-term infection is known as chronic hepatitis B infection. Over time, this type of hepatitis will damage the liver. The scary part is that you may not know you are a carrier and can pass on the virus to others. A blood test is the best way to figure out whether you have had or have hepatitis B, which often has no symptoms. Chronic hepatitis B can eventually lead to severe liver damage, and a liver transplant may be the only option for the patient.

It is recommended that adults at risk for contracting this virus, plus babies through teenagers, get the Hepatitis B vaccine. It is the best way of protecting yourself and them.

Hepatitis C is more serious than hepatitis B, though it is also a liver virus. It is transmitted through contact with infected blood. It doesn’t spread through casual contact. Rarely, there are cases of acute hepatitis C in which the person gets sick for a very short period, then recovers. The majority of cases involve long-term, chronic hepatitis C infections. This virus can cause permanent liver damage, liver cancer, liver failure and cirrhosis. Interestingly, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that tattoos cause as much as 41 percent of all hepatitis C cases. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for this type of hepatitis.