An abscess detected in the brain of a young woman was probably caused by an infection resulting from having her tongue pierced one month earlier, report two physicians at the School of Medicine.
This is believed to be the first report of a brain abscess associated with tongue piercing.
"The bacteria that caused the abscess in this patient were those typically found in persons' mouths," says Dr. Richard Martinello, a postdoctoral fellow in the Section of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine. "We conclude the abscess potentially arose secondary to the tongue piercing associated infection."
Martinello, who was assisted by Dr. Elizabeth Cooney, associate clinical professor of internal medicine, says the patient reported that shortly after the tongue piercing her tongue was swollen, tender and had a foul tasting discharge. She removed the jewelry and the symptoms cleared up within days.
But about a month later she began suffering from severe headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting. She also had difficulty maintaining her balance. A CT scan conducted in a local emergency room showed an abnormality in the cerebellum area of her brain.
The patient's abscess was drained by Yale neurosurgeons and intravenous antibiotics. She made a full recovery.
Martinello says he reported the finding as a caution to persons who are contemplating having a body piercing and as an alert to the piercers because they are the ones who are most likely to see or hear about the symptoms.
"Although the jewelry inserted through the tongue allows a ready tract for spontaneous drainage of infection, this procedure is likely at high risk for postoperative complication due to the presence of a foreign body in a warm, moist, bacteria-laden environment," he says.
-- By Jacqueline Weaver
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