KANPUR: A 32-year-old woman from Kanpur has been diagnosed with HIV after she reportedly developed a severe infection weeks after getting a tattoo at a parlour in Delhi.Doctors at GSVM Medical College suspect the woman may have contracted HIV through a contaminated tattoo needle, though they said further investigation is underway to confirm the source.The woman approached the dermatology department at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial (GSVM) Medical College with complaints of a severe genital infection.During evaluation, doctors conducted HIV and Hepatitis-B tests, which revealed that she was HIV positive. She has since been enrolled for free Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) at a govt hospital.Associate professor of dermatology department, Dr Shwetank, said the woman visited the hospital about a week ago.
‘Contaminated needle may’ve caused infection’
“She had got a tattoo at a parlour in Delhi around two weeks earlier, following which she developed a severe genital infection. Considering the seriousness of her condition, we advised HIV and Hepatitis-B tests. The reports showed that she was HIV positive.”According to the doctor, the initial findings suggest the infection may have been caused by the use of a contaminated or unsterilised tattoo needle. However, he clarified that further investigation is required before drawing a conclusion.Dr Shwetank said the woman has started ART treatment, which is provided free of cost at government hospitals. He added that while HIV can be effectively managed with treatment, there is no permanent cure, and patients must continue lifelong medication.The doctor also cautioned people against getting tattoos at unhygienic establishments, saying contaminated needles can expose individuals to blood-borne infections such as HIV and Hepatitis-B.He further warned that tattoo inks can trigger various skin disorders, including granulomatous and foreign-body reactions.According to him, red and green tattoo inks are more commonly associated with such reactions, which may cause painful, itchy red rashes on the skin.
