Body Piercing Problems: Check Your Symptoms

Content provided by Healthwise

When to See a Doctor

Do you have any signs of an allergic reaction?

See significance of an allergic reaction if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have hives that came on suddenly after your piercing and cover all or most of your body?

Yes

Do you feel like your mouth or throat is swelling but you are not having any breathing problems?

Yes

Are you having mild wheezing or mild difficulty breathing?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have hives over all or most of your body that came on over several hours after your piercing?

Yes

Do you have normal breathing at rest, but any amount of effort causes mild shortness of breath or mild wheezing?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had hives for 24 hours or longer?

Yes

Have you had swelling and itching at the piercing site (local allergic reaction) for 24 hours or longer?

Yes

Have you had a long-term (chronic) mild breathing problem that has slowly gotten worse during the past 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	September 04, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer