Question

Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing?

1. Chikungunya

2. Hepatitis B

3. HIV-AIDS

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : 2 and 3 only

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

• Tattoos may cause diseases because tattoo instruments come in contact with blood and bodily fluids if the instruments are used on more than one person without being sterilised.
  • However, infection from tattooing in clean and modern tattoo studios employing single-use needles is rare.
• Infections that can theoretically be transmitted by the use of unsterilised tattoo equipment or contaminated ink include surface infections of the skin, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and HIV.
  • However, no person is reported to have contracted HIV via a commercially-applied tattooing process.
  • Hence statements 2 and 3 are only correct.
• Tattoo inks have been described as "remarkably nonreactive histologically".
  • However, some allergic reactions have been medically documented.
• Please note that a few cases of burns on tattoos caused by MRI scans have been documented.
  • These burns are largely on the designs containing large areas of black ink since black commonly contains iron oxide; the MRI scanner causes the iron to heat up either by inducing an electrical current or hysteresis