ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Tattooing is a very popular form of body modification among young people. However, this kind of procedure entails the risk of various health complications. The objective of the study was to evaluate the students' knowledge about contraindications, complications, and health risks that skin tattooing may cause. Additionally, the purpose of the study was to assess how the profile of education (medical vs nonmedical) impacts on the knowledge of the respondents. METHODS: We surveyed a group of 1199 people, of which 326 (27%) had tattoos. The base of the study is an anonymously filled, author's online survey consisting of 25 questions. RESULTS: Eighty six percent of the students from the Medical University of Gdansk indicated the risk of HCV virus infection during tattooing, while only 34% of students from other Tricity universities were aware of this danger. Sixty seven percent of people with tattoos felt that having them does not affect any diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Most of respondents mentioned the tattoo artist (79%) and the Internet (73%) as a source of information before having a tattoo, while only 5% and 8% respondents asked a doctor or read medical literature about it. Fourty nine percent of respondents reported that before the procedure, tattooist failed to ask them about their health condition and medications. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of students about safety, contraindications, and complications associated with the performance of tattooing is insufficient. As a result, a need for a better education on the topic for both people who are getting tattoos and tattooists appears evident.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/epidemiology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Pruritus/etiology , Skin Diseases, Bacterial/etiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tattooing/adverse effects , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology , Female , Health Promotion , Humans , Incidence , Male , Poland , Pruritus/epidemiology , Pruritus/physiopathology , Risk Assessment , Skin Diseases, Bacterial/epidemiology , Skin Diseases, Bacterial/physiopathology , Tattooing/statistics & numerical data , Universities , Young AdultABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: In children, cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) is considered to be a benign disease associated with mast cell mediator-related symptoms. However, systemic mastocytosis (SM) and anaphylaxis may also occur. Since the basal serum tryptase (bsT) level reflects mast cell burden, its determination is recommended in the diagnosis and follow-up. AIM: To compare clinical presentation and the course of mastocytosis in children with normal and clearly elevated bsT levels as well as to assess its usefulness in the diagnosis and monitoring of the course of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 102 medical records of children with mastocytosis diagnosed and followed-up in the Gdansk Mastocytosis Center in 2014 was performed. RESULTS: Maculopapular CM (MPCM) was diagnosed in 91 (89.22%) children, diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis (DCM) in 7 (6.86%) and mastocytoma in 4 (3.92%). The presence of flushing and bullous lesions was more frequent in children with bsT levels > 20 ng/ml in comparison with those who had bsT ≤ 20 ng/ml (p = 0.002 and p = 0.03, respectively). Anaphylaxis occurred in 2 MPCM children with bsT levels in normal ranges. In all of the 3 children with persistently and clearly elevated bsT levels, bone marrow biopsy revealed no mast cells infiltrates corresponding to SM. CONCLUSIONS: Although mastocytosis children with clearly elevated bsT levels frequently develop mediator-related symptoms, the occurrence of anaphylaxis in this age group may be difficult to predict. In pediatric cases with suspected SM, the bsT level is one of the crucial parameters considered before the decision on bone marrow biopsy.
