A Perth woman has issued a serious health warning after her partner suffered a severe infection following a tattoo.
Celine McSweeney shared that her husband, Ben, fell ill shortly after getting tattooed at a well-regarded parlour in Perth. Within hours, he was unable to walk or talk, and his skin had turned yellow.
“All his previous tattoos have been done in Bali. Within hours he was so unwell he couldn’t walk or talk, his lips, feet, and nose had turned white, and his skin and eyes were yellow,” McSweeney posted on Facebook.
Initially, paramedics diagnosed Ben with gastro, but McSweeney suspected the new tattoo might be the cause. She unwrapped the tattoo, noticed a strange smell, and insisted on calling an ambulance.
McSweeney, 28, said that upon arriving at the hospital, Ben’s infection levels were critically high, leading to sepsis.
“He spent six days in the hospital, receiving intravenous fluids and antibiotics. He couldn’t walk or eat, and I had to brush his teeth for him in bed,” she explained.
Ben’s condition worsened, and on the third day, he tested positive for golden staph, a serious infection caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. This common bacterium can cause various infections and is frequently associated with tattoos.
“His liver was shutting down, and he developed a heart murmur. His leg and foot had no pulse due to swelling,” McSweeney said. “We were told this was all caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream from the tattoo, and he was lucky to be alive.”
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the medical staff at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Ben has now fully recovered. McSweeney described the ordeal as traumatizing and unforgettable.
She urges anyone getting a tattoo to seek medical advice if they experience unusual symptoms. “I hate to think what could’ve happened if I had left him in bed to rest,” she added.