Tattooing trend: major cause of HCV transmission among youngsters

Sir,

In this journal, recently, a very high prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people who inject drugs was reported and the authors called for measures to prevent spread by increased awareness of HCV. We here report the increase in transmission of HCV through tattooing. Skin art, tattooing, and body piercing is increasingly common among young adults and adolescents but the risk of viral transmission through this practice has not been adequately addressed in the literature. This trend popular in western countries, is now moving into mainstream culture of developing countries of Asia as well. This trend is currently on rise in Pakistan because of massive influence of media and peer-pressure. ‘Unsanitary’ tattoo parlors opening up all over urban and rural areas of the country are posing serious health threats to general population...