If done improperly, a belly button piercing runs the risk of getting an infection from fungi and bacteria. This could happen if an unorthodox and unsuitable piercing method had been used, or if the piercer had been working on it with dirty hands and/or unsanitary equipment. Infections can also occur if the piercing wound comes into contact with pollutants such as in contaminated water, and would lead to contracting infectious viruses.
There are certain signs to determine if one is having belly button piercing infections. An obvious symptom that there is something amiss would of course be a feeling of pain, followed by some swelling. Another important indication would be redness in the region of the piercing. At this point, one should have paid attention to the warning signs and make steps to curtail what could lead to even more severe infection.
Another sign of belly button piercing infections is if the area around the piercing feels hot to the touch. Also, the wound would exude pus (a phase known as cellulitis) during the initial stage of infection. When the infection enters the advanced stage, the wound would then start to bleed, followed with a release of yellow-green fluid. This is a symptom of the condition called Sepsis-septicemia, wherein an infection causes a patient’s entire body to become swollen. Occurring when the body’s natural defense system is agitated, causing an inflammation of the whole body and blood clotting in the vessels, it is not usually fatal; but it is definitely uncomfortable, to put it quite mildly.
If the belly button piercing infection is not tended to in time, there is a danger of that an abscess (an accumulation of pus in tissue cavity) might form, which could potentially be fatal if not if not dealt with as soon as possible. There are also instances when an infection spreads out to the abdomen, which would then lead to it being infected and sometimes even causing food poisoning as well.
The signs of belly button piercing infection should never be ignored. It is advised to refer to a physician as soon as the initial symptoms appear. To treat an infection, the first step is to clean it using alcohol as a disinfectant. Next, check if there is discharge of pus in the wound. If there is none, the belly button ring should be removed. If pus is being released, leave the ring on or else the pus will not be fully drained out. If this happens, the hole would close and might cause abscess to form. In the event of pus or abscess, prescribed oral antibiotics are usually taken. Occasionally though, it might require surgery to get rid of the abscess.
If the pus does not drain from the piercing wound, apply a hot compress to boost the circulation of blood in the infected spot. But before using the compress, the container should be properly disinfected first. The compress has to be dipped in a solution made from hot water and tablesalt in order to disinfect it, which will in turn enable it to disinfect the affected area.
The use of Hydrogen peroxide can be of help in draining pus and cleaning the wound. However, it should not be applied as an aftercare treatment. Should infection spread out to the rest of the body via the blood, applying intravenous antibiotics becomes necessary. A belly button piercing infection can be a serious matter indeed. So to be spared from such discomfort, one should make sure they are getting their piercings properly and must take extra care of their piercing wound while it heals.
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