Human papillomavirus

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a highly human-specific infection of the family Papovaviridea that can infect and transform epithelial cells.More than a hundred types of HPV have been identified, 35 of which infect the human urogenital tract, causing damage to the integumentary epithelium of the skin and the mucous membrane of the genital organs.

Every sixth person is a carrier of papillomavirus - this is indicated by WHO data.Infection caused by the papillomavirus is warts (condylomas) and belongs to the group of viral infectious diseases characterized by papillomatous formations appearing on the skin and mucous membranes.HPV is characterized by its chronic form, with constant relapses.

Reasons

Why does human papillomavirus develop and what is it?The pathogen is a virus that affects the upper layer of the skin and the mucous membrane of the genitals.Transmission of these viruses is possible only from person to person;infection occurs through contact with the skin or mucous membranes of a sick person.

Human papillomavirus infection can occur:

1. During sexual intercourse.According to the International Medical Association, papillomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, accounting for more than 60% of cases.
2. At birth.The infection can be transmitted from mother to newborn at birth, which then leads to infection with papillomavirus or laryngeal papillomatosis.
3. By autoinoculation.Self-infection can occur if basic hygiene rules are not followed: hair removal or shaving.
4. With everyday tools.Human papillomavirus is highly survivable and can survive for long periods of time in public places such as toilets, baths, gyms and swimming pools in warm, humid environments.Infection occurs through various skin lesions, direct contact, use of personal hygiene items or through public places.

Different types of HPV cause or play a role in the development of:

• cervical dysplasia (62%);
• preinvasive and invasive cervical cancer (38%);
• genital warts, urinary tract (51%);
• 10% of clinically healthy women are HPV carriers;
• In 85% of patients with typical genital warts of the external genitalia, the examination reveals additional foci of HPV infection in the vagina and cervix in severe and mild forms.

These data allow us to consider patients with human papillomavirus infection of the genital tract as a group with a high risk of developing intraepithelial carcinoma of the cervix.

Classification

The following classification applies:

1. HPV, the manifestation of which are different types of warts (HPV 1-5):
2. Plantar warts (its appearance resembles a callus), these are HPV types 1-4;
3. Flat warts are HPV types 3, 10, 28, 49;
4. The most common warts are HPV type 27.
5. HPV types affecting the vulva, vagina, genitals, cervix and respiratory tract are HPV types 6, 11, 13, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35.
6. HPV, the rash of which is associated with the condition of a precancerous disease (high oncogenic risk HPV), is HPV 39 and other types.

As you can see, these benign tumors can develop in any part of the body:

• neck;
• face;
• under the breast;
• in the armpit;
• on the genitals;
• on the mucous membranes of internal organs, in the oral and nasal cavities.

The need to treat the human papillomavirus comes from the following fact.The strain is an intracellular parasite that cannot reproduce independently.It uses the cells of the human body for this purpose.The virus can parasitize for quite a long time and introduce its own DNA into human chromosomes.Its noticeable activation is observed against the background of reduced immunity.

Latency period

The incubation period is long: from half a month to several years.Human papillomavirus infection is characterized by a hidden (latent) course.A person can be infected with several types of papillomavirus at the same time.Under the influence of various factors, the virus is activated, its reproduction increases, and the disease enters the stage of clinical manifestations.

In most cases (up to 90%), self-healing occurs within 6-12 months, in other cases, a long-term chronic recurrent course with malignancy of the process is possible (depending on the type of virus).

Symptoms of human papillomavirus

The human immune system is strong enough to defeat the virus in its early stages of development.And in most cases, the disease does not develop.However, over time, months, years, or even decades, people may experience some symptoms of HPV infection.

There are several groups of diseases most often caused by HPV:

1. WartsRound growths, stiffer than the body, 2-1 cm in diameter.The borders of the warts are very clear and irregularly shaped warts are also found.They are rough to the touch and can be of different colors.They most often develop in places where the skin is most damaged: on the hands, knees or elbows.
2. Plantar warts.Infected with type 1 and type 2 viruses, they develop in places where shoes rub or press against your feet.At the site of the wart, the skin becomes thicker, and the warts do not have a clear border.
3. Condylomas acuminata- specific warts that usually appear on the mucous membrane and skin of the genitals: in men, on the head of the penis and on the skin of the foreskin, in women on the skin of the warts.They can also appear in the bladder, urethra, cervix, vagina, skin around the anus, and in the mouth.Outwardly, these genital warts look like small convex formations, their edges are uneven (they look like cauliflower).This disease is caused by human papillomavirus types 6 and 11.
4. Bowenoid papulosis.Small, flat wart plaques (somewhat similar to flat warts) appear around the genitals.It develops more often in men who constantly change sexual partners.Called by types - 16, 18, 31, 33, 42, 48, 51, 54.

Any viral infection that is constantly present in the human body (and HPV is one of them) is activated only when immunity decreases.

Human papillomavirus: photo

To find out what the human papillomavirus looks like in its various manifestations, we took a photo.

Symptoms of human papillomavirus in women

The infection can occur in a latent form or cause the development of genital papillomas.Genital warts are mainly observed in women aged 15-30.

The main risk of the development of diseases of types 16 and 18 is the development of cervical cancer.Cervical cancer reduces life expectancy by an average of 26 years.From the point of view of the development of cancer, only the virus that remains in the body for more than a year becomes dangerous.

Unfortunately, these women's diseases are often asymptomatic until the final stage, when the effectiveness of treatment is significantly reduced.

Symptoms of human papillomavirus in men

Human papillomavirus is less dangerous for men than for women.Most often they are passive carriers.The probability of developing cancer is much lower.

In men, HPV can cause genital warts on the foreskin, glans or frenulum.Such formations must be urgently removed, because they interfere not only with personal hygiene, but also with sexual activity.

Prevention

We list the main directions for the prevention of human papillomavirus infection:

• personal hygiene measures in public places;
• a healthy lifestyle that keeps immunity at a high level;
• correct work and rest schedule;
• moderate physical exercise;
• taking vitamins, fruits, fruit juices;
• only one sexual partner (ideally);
• condom use during sexual intercourse.

There are currently vaccines against human papillomavirus.

Treatment of human papillomavirus

Currently, there is no antiviral drug that can cause the human papillomavirus to disappear from the body.

Various interferons and interferonogenic substances can reduce existing condylomas, but do not reduce the frequency of new ones.Therefore, the main method of treating human papillomavirus remains the removal of condylomas by chemical or surgical methods.

Here are the main methods of removing papilloma tissue:

1. Radiosurgery.The radio wave electrode cuts the tumor and coagulates the blood vessels.An antiseptic dressing is then required.
2. Laser.Contact and bloodless method.At the site of the removed papilloma, a crust remains, under which healing continues.Disadvantages: the risk of relapse, high costs, the need to polish the remaining scars.
3. Electrocoagulation.In terms of efficiency, results and prices, the method is similar to the previous two methods.
4. Surgical.This is an operation performed under local anesthesia.

Be sure to ask your doctor before starting treatment:

1. What treatments are available at the clinic where you are being treated?
2. How much do each treatment method cost and what are the possible complications?
3. Will the surgery be painful?

It should be emphasized that the removal of papillomas cannot be considered a complete cure of human papillomavirus infection, since in this case the person does not cease to be a virus carrier, that is, papillary polyps may reappear within a few years.That is why, for prevention, doctors recommend improving the health of the entire body.

Cryocoagulation

Cryocoagulation (cauterization with liquid nitrogen) is a quick and effective method of treating genital warts.The procedure can be somewhat painful and uncomfortable, but this rarely bothers patients very much.

Cryocoagulation of condylomas is carried out in several sessions over several weeks.Complete elimination of condylomas is observed in 75-80% of all patients who have undergone the procedure.

Recommendations for patients

Do not attempt to diagnose and treat human papillomavirus yourself.

1. First, you need to choose the right method.
2. Secondly, there is always the risk of confusing genital warts with a malignant tumor.

It is better not to take risks and entrust your health to professionals - this will ensure a long and happy sex life.During the period of treatment of the papillomavirus, sexual activity is stopped until complete recovery.The partner must be examined and, if necessary, treated.