PEDIATRICS Vol. 90 No. 6 December 1992, pp. 1005
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Earrings: A Source of Bloodborne Infections?

PHILIP D. WALSON MD1 and MICHAEL T. BRADY MD2

1 Professor, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Allied Health Services, The Ohio State University and Children's Hospital
2 Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University and Physician Director of Epidemiology and HIV Program, Children's Hospital

To the Editor.—

We recently became aware of a practice which has potential for transmission of bloodborne diseases: sharing of nonsterilized earrings. Both young adult-aged children of one of us (P. W.) confided that they had shared earrings with friends. Although both children were aware of the risks associated with the sharing of needles and sexual activity, neither associated sharing earrings with any health risk. Questioning of other adolescents and young adults revealed that this practice may be widespread.