HIV Infection Risk In Ghaziabad , 68 Women Contract AIDS from Tattoos, Revealed in Pregnancy Tests

Conducted routine HIV counseling at the district women's hospital, and an important trend was identified: during a period of four years, 68 were found to be HIV positive, and among them, 20 reported that they probably acquired this infection through getting tattoos from roadside artists.

Safe Tattooing Reducing HIV Infection Risk 

These women remembered having some health problems shortly after the tattoos, indicating a possible connection to unsanitary practices. Hospital staff says that 15-20 new HIV cases among women are reported every year through prenatal screening, many of them having a link to improper tattooing.

How Tattoos Are Potent Infection Instruments

Although getting a tattoo is not hazardous in itself, but using a non-sterilized needle or using the contaminated piece of equipment dramatically raises the chances of infection. If the needle had been used to treat an HIV-positive person and then reused without proper sterilization, this individual would then carry the virus and get transmitted with it to the next person. A hospital pathologist, Dr. Shaifali Agarwal, says that tattoo artists must use a new, sterile needle per client because using the same needle, a 0.3 percent risk of infection transmission may arise.

Importance of Precautions

To prevent infection, the doctor stresses proper selection of tattoo artist and importance of safe techniques. Dr. Alka Sharma, CMS at women's hospital explained all infections are blood-borne, HIV and hepatitis are transmitted mostly by blood-borne contact. Therefore, therefore tattoo artist should use sterile disposable needles for tattoos.

Tattoo Safety Guidelines

Dr Mahendra Singh, surgeon at MMG Hospital, has proposed a few precautions for anybody getting himself tattooed:
1. Check Needle Sterility: Always have a new needle; it should be single-use, new with a cover or guard. Avert places where a single-needle use is done repeatedly.
2.Verify Ink Expiry: The ink should always be within its expiry date in case of any adverse reaction.
3. Don't go to bed hungry and after drinking: This is because it makes your skin sensitized and unworthy of the healing process.

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4. Permanent tattoos are best: Temporary tattoo ink contains harmful substances that might cause irritation on your skin.
5. Cover up the tattooed skin once the art is created: Avoid dirt contact with a clean cloth or tissue.
6. Sun Avoidance: As much as possible, avoid the tattooed area from the sun since damage can be caused.
7. Hygiene Advice: Use the soap prescribed for washing the tattoo delicately.
8. Moisturize: Apply a light moisturizer to hydrate the skin and prevent scratching.

By these, people will minimize risk infection during the process of getting tattoos.