TATTOOLING AND HBS Ag

Abstract

To investigate the association between tattooing and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), sera form 49 tattooed individuals, mostly men aged 15-62 years, and 82 healthy controls matched for age, sex and social class were tested for HBsAg and anti-HBsAg. HBsAg was detected more significantly in tattooed cases than in controls, 24.5% and 6% respectively. Seven (33%) of the individuals who had been tattooed within the preceding year, the average time between tattooing and serum collection being 18 weeks, were found to be HBsAg positive, and the predominant subtype was AWY . Anti-HBsAg was detected in %30 and %18 of the tattooed cases and controls respectively. Four of the 18 tattooed individuals and two of the five controls with a history of jaundice had abnormal liver function tests. Drug addiction was notice equally among the tattooed and control groups. Since tattooing is still popular among some population groups in Iran, public Health measures are recommended for the prevention and control of the medical hazards of tattooing, including hepatitis type B.