Nipple piercing in 14-year-old boy leads to infection and surgery

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
A 14-year-old boy who underwent a piercing in his nipple is hospitalized in Safed and facing surgery to repair damage from a serious infection, Ziv Hospital said on Thursday. Only a few days ago, a 19-year-old combat soldier from Afula died from complications from a tongue piercing. Two years ago, after the Health Ministry noted numerous complications from piercings and tattoos, it required the relevant establishments to place a warning sign of the risk of infections, pain, scars and other health problems. It was not clear whether the high school pupil from the Galilee had received his parents' permission in writing to undergo the piercing, which is required by law for anyone under the age of 16. Dr. Yuri Weiner, deputy head of pediatric intensive care at Ziv Hospital, said the boy previously had other parts of his body pierced with the insertion of a ring, but doing so in his nipple caused a serious infection in the lining of his chest and that he would need intensive antibiotic treatment and surgery, which is disfiguring.