Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a specific pathogen that causes a chronic infectious disease called human papillomavirus infection, which is the most common infection among humans.
Modern medicine knows several types of this microorganism, each of which has different manifestations: warts on the skin of the legs, arms and other parts of the body, genital warts on the mucous membrane of the genitals.HPV lives exclusively in the basal layer of the skin and is transmitted sexually.
Varieties
There are many types of viruses.Some of them are not harmful to humans at all.However, about forty types of HPV cause genital warts in both men and women.And there are those that provoke the formation of malignant cells.
Of all the known types of human papillomavirus, the most common types are:
- HPV, which causes plantar warts that look like calluses;
- HPV, which causes flat warts;
- HPV, which causes the growth of common warts;
- HPV, which causes genital warts and papillomas on the genitals in men and women;
- HPV, which causes precancerous rashes.
Based on the probability of causing cancer, all HPVs are divided into safe viruses, viruses with a low oncogenic risk and viruses with a high oncogenic risk.The latter can be observed on the genitals of men and women in the form of genital warts and papillomas.If these types of growths are detected, urgent removal is required.
How is it transmitted?
Human papillomavirus is highly contagious.In most cases, the infection itself appears in early childhood, during children's active exploration of the world around them, during which damage to the child's skin occurs (bruises, scratches).Through such damage, papillomaviruses enter the child's body.
Certain strains of the virus cause genital warts in adults.The transmission mechanism in this case is exclusively sexual.The virus penetrates from one sexual partner to another through microtraumas of the genitals, including anal intercourse and oral sex.
In addition, there are several additional ways of transmission of the human papillomavirus:
- transmission of the virus from mother to child during childbirth.In this case, the formation of papillomas in a newborn occurs on the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat, as well as in the area of the anus and genitals;
- self-infection, in which the virus is transferred from one part of the body to another during shaving or hair removal;
- transmission of the virus through household appliances (shower or swimming pool).
Symptoms
The immune system of a healthy person is able to overcome the activity of the virus already in the early stages of development, so in most cases the human papillomavirus does not manifest itself in any way.Reduced immunity allows the virus to become more active, which leads to the appearance of characteristic clinical symptoms.Viruses gathered in a certain place on the skin or mucous membrane disrupt the reproduction of cells, accelerating their division.In this case, growths appear that characterize the presence of the virus in the body.Growths can be papillomas, genital warts and warts.
A papilloma is a soft, elongated growth that is attached to the skin by a stalk.Most often, papillomas develop under the mammary glands in women, in the armpits, in the groin, on the neck and in some cases on the face.The number and size of papillomas increases rapidly.
Warts are round, hard, rough, well-defined growths with a diameter of 2 mm to 1 cm.They most often develop on the hands, elbows and knees.
Condyloma acuminata are rather soft, rough growths with stalks attached to the skin.Most often, they develop in the area of the external genitalia and the anus.A distinctive feature of genital warts is rapid growth in the form of curls or cauliflower.
In women
Once inside the woman's body, the human papillomavirus causes the appearance of genital warts or genital papillomas (between the ages of 15 and 30) and often leads to the development of erosion and dysplasia of the cervix.The first neoplasms usually appear within three months from the moment of infection, and in most cases they are located on the labia minora, in the cervical canal, on the skin around the anus, and in the oral cavity.The infection can live in a woman's body for a long time without showing itself in any way.The onset of menopause activates the virus, which can cause a malignant tumor of the cells of the mucous membrane of the genital organs.
For men
In men, the characteristic feature of the human papillomavirus is the long-term and asymptomatic development of the disease.Against the background of stable immunity, the virus has no external manifestations.But factors such as hypothermia, overwork and infectious diseases can significantly reduce the level of immunity, which in itself leads to the appearance of the first clinical symptoms in the form of tumors on the skin and mucous membranes.Men can develop genital warts (genital papillomas), whose favorite habitat is the anus and penis.Men can also experience papillomatosis of the larynx in a recurrent form.
Treatment of human papillomavirus
Modern medicine does not have a single special drug that can fight the human papillomavirus.Most growths will disappear on their own within 6 months to 3 years.The previously transmitted type of virus develops lifelong immunity in the body.
In the vast majority of cases, the treatment of HPV is aimed not at eliminating the pathogen, but at the external manifestations of its activity.Warts and papillomas are removed in cases where they cause cosmetic discomfort or become painful.Removal of genital warts is mandatory for both men and women.The main removal methods are: electrocoagulation with electric current, cryodestruction with liquid nitrogen.
Treatment of papillomas and warts involves the use of the following medical procedures:
- daily treatment of warts with a 20% salicylic acid solution for a long time;
- injections into the source of infection;
- local treatment of warts with creams;
- cauterization of papillomas and warts with special preparations;
- cryotherapy (removal of tumors in 3-4 sessions);
- laser therapy (1-3 sessions).
Treatment with folk remedies
The treatment of HPV includes the methods of traditional medicine.The most common of them are:
- treatment of warts with celandine, dandelion, green apple, aloe juice;
- poultice made from rabbit cabbage leaves, frozen rowan, garlic, and Kalanchoe leaves;
- baths with a strong infusion of St. John's wort and chamomile;
- treating warts with a decoction of vinegared willow bark.
You should not expect immediate healing from treatment with folk remedies.It is a long and persistent process.But patience and perseverance bring positive results.