HPV infection

Description

HPV infection is a viral infection. There are more than 100 types of human papilloma virus (HPV). Some types of HPV infection cause skin growths called warts and some types of HPV infection can cause cancer.

Most HPV infections do not cause cancer. But some types of HPV can cause cancer of the lower part of the uterus that connects with the vagina, called the neck of the uterus. Other kinds of cancer have been linked to HPV infection. These include cancers of the anus, the penis, the vagina, the vulva and the back of the throat. The cancer on the back of the throat is called oropharyngeal cancer.

These infections are transmitted through sexual intercourse or through skin-to-skin contact. Vaccines can help protect against the strains of HPV most likely to cause genital warts or cervical cancer.

Symptoms

Normally, the immune system of the body due to an infection by the HPV before it is created warts. The different types of HPV that produce different warts, including:

  • Genital warts.Some appear flat. Others see it as a small cauliflower-like bumps or tiny medulla oblongata blows. In women, genital warts appear mostly on the vulva. But it can also occur near the anus, on the cervix or in the vagina. In men, genital warts appear on the penis and the scrotum or around the anus. Genital warts rarely cause discomfort or pain. But they may itch or feel tender.
  • Common warts. Common warts appear as rough, raised bumps. They usually occur in the hands and fingers. The most common warts are simply not attractive. But it can also be painful. And it is eas ... and for them to get injured or bleeding.
  • Plantar warts. Plantar warts are hard, grainy growths that usually appear on the heels or balls of the feet. These warts can cause discomfort.
  • Flat warts. Flat warts are flat-topped, slightly raised sores in the flame of the injurys. Can appear in any part of the body. But children tend to get out of them in the face, the men tend to get them in the area of the beard, and women tend to get in the legs.

Genital warts. Some appear flat. Others seem small cauliflower-like bumps or small stemlike blows. In women, genital warts appear mostly on the vulva. But it can also occur near the anus, on the cervix or in the vagina.

In men, genital warts appear on the penis and the scrotum or around the anus. Genital warts often cause discomfort or pain. But may cause itching or a feeling of tender.

Cervical cancer

Infections by HPV causes nearly all cervical cancers. But cervical cancer can take 20 years or more after infection by HPV. HPV infection and cervical cancer early usually does not cause symptoms. The vaccine against HPV infection is the best way to protect against cervical cancer.

Because early cervical cancer does not cause symptoms, it is vital that women have regular screening tests. These tests can detect changes in the cervix that can lead to cancer. The current guidelines recommend that women between the ages of 21 to 29, the test that verifies that the cells of the cervix for cancer, it is called a Pap test every three years.

Women between the ages of 30 to 65 years are recommended to continue to have Pap tests every three years. Or Pap test can be every five years for women who also get an HPV DNA test at the same time. Women over 65 years you can stop the test if they have had three regular Pap tests in a row, or in two of HPV DNA and Pap tests without any irregular results.

When to see a doctor

If you or your son / has any warts that cause embarrassment, discomfort or pain, seek the advice of your health care professional.

Causes

HPV infection occurs when the virus enters the body, usually through a cut or other damage to the skin. The virus is transmitted primarily by skin-to-skin contact.

Genital HPV infections are contracted through sex, anal sex and skin-to-skin contact of the genitals. Some HPV infections are spread through oral sex.

People who are pregnant and have HPV infection with genital warts can give the infection the baby. In rare cases, the infection can cause a non-cancerous growth in the baby of the voice box, called the larynx.

Warts are easily spread. This means that warts are contagious and can spread through direct contact with the wart. The warts can also be spread by touching something that has touched a wart.

Risk factors

HPV infections are very common. Risk factors for HPV infection include:

  • The number of sexual partners. The more sexual partners, the greater the risk of contracting genital HPV infection. Having sex with a partner who has had multiple sexual partners also increases the risk.
  • Age. Common warts occur mostly in children. Genital warts occur most often in adolescents and young adults.
  • Weakened immune system. HIV/AIDS or certain drugs used after organ transplants, it can weaken the immune system. People who have weakened immune systems are at higher risk of HPV infections.
  • The damaged skin. Areas of skin that have been injured are more likely to develop common warts.
  • The Personal contact. Touching someone's warts may increase the risk of HPV infection. So that you can touch the surfaces that have been infected with HPV, as the showers or swimming pools.

Complications

  • Oral and upper respiratory tract sores, called lesions. Some HPV infections can cause lesions on the tongue, the tonsils, or the soft palate, or the inside of the larynx and nose.
  • Cancer. Certain strains of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. These strains may also play a role in cancers of the genitals, the anus, the mouth and the upper respiratory tract.

Prevention

Common warts

It is difficult to prevent HPV infections that cause common warts. If you have a common wart, can prevent the spread of infection and prevent the warts from forming by not picking at a wart and not biting your nails.

Plantar warts

To decrease the risk of contracting HPV infections that cause plantar warts, the wear of flip-flops or other shoes in public pool decks and in the locker rooms.

Genital warts

Decrease the risk of contracting genital warts and other HPV-related genital ulcers:

  • Taking only a single sexual partner who does not have sex with anyone else. This is a monogamous relationship.
  • The use of a latex condom during sex, which could reduce the risk of contracting HPV.

Vaccines against HPV

Gardasil 9 is a vaccine against HPV was approved by the Food and Drug Administration and can be used for males and females, to protect against cervical cancer and genital warts.

The vaccine works best if a person is put before the first sexual contact. Once someone has HPV, the vaccine may not work as well or at all. Also, more young people to respond better to the vaccine than older people do. If given before someone is infected with HPV, the vaccine can prevent most cervical cancers.

Two doses of the HPV vaccine is recommended for children under the age of 11 and 12, but this vaccine may be administered as Iung as 9 years of age. The two-dose series is given until the age of 14 years. The dose is administered at least five months apart. Adolescents and young adults who start the vaccine series at age 15 through 26 years of age should receive three doses of the vaccine.

HPV infection

Diagnosis

A health care professional may be able to diagnose HPV infection by looking at your warts.

If genital warts are not displayed one or more of the following tests can be found:

  • Vinegar, called acetic acid, the solution of test. A vinegar solution applied to HPV -infected genital areas turns them white. This can help to flat lesions are shown.
  • The pap test. A sample of cells from your cervix or vagina to go to a lab to look for changes that can lead to cancer.
  • DNA test. The tests of the cells of the cervix, you can identify the DNA of the types of HPV that are linked to genital cancers. It is recommended that women aged 30 and older this test with a Pap test.

Treatment

The warts may go away without treatment, especially in children. But there is no cure for the virus. And the warts may come back in the same spot or in other places.

Drugs

Medications to get rid of warts usually go directly on the warts. These medications may be necessary to use many times before the warts disappear. Examples include:

  • The salicylic acid. Treatments without prescriptithat contain salicylic acid in the removal of the layers of a wart a little bit at a time. For the use in common of warts, salicylic acid can irritate the skin. Salicylic acid is for use on the face.)
  • Imiquimod (Zyclara). This recipe for cream may help the immune system fight against HPV. Common side effects include swelling in the place where the cream is applied.
  • Podofilox (Condylox). Another prescription is applied to the skin, podofilox works by killing genital wart tissue. Podofilox can cause burning and itching where it is applied.
  • Tri -chloroacetic acid. This chemical treatment burn the warts on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and the genitals. May cause irritation to the place where it is applied.

Surgical and other procedures

If the drugs don't work, one of these methods you can remove warts:

  • Freezing with liquid nitrogen, cryotherapy.
  • Burned with an electric current, called electrocautery.
  • The surgical removal.
  • The laser surgery.

Treatment for HPV in the cervix

A procedure called a colposcopy can eliminate HPV in the cervix. A health care professional uses a tool, called a coloscope, to see the cervix and take samples of tissue, called a biopsy, in areas that look atypical.

Precancerous lesions need to be removed. Options include freezing, called cryosurgery, laser, and surgical excision. Another method called loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) uses a thin wire wound charged with an electric current to remove a thin layer of a section of the neck of the uterus. And the cold knife cone biopsy is a surgical procedure that removes a cone of tissue from the cervix.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary health care provider. Depending on where the warts are, you may be referred to a particular health care professional. For example, you may be referred to a specialist who treats the skin, called the derma -tologist; a specialist who treats the foot, called a podiatrist; or the reproductive organs specialist, either a gynecologist or a urologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list orf:

  • Your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason of his appointment, and when they began.
  • Key personal information, including major stresses, recent life changes and their sexual history.
  • All medications, vitamins or other supplements that tenga, including the dose.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

For HPV infection, questions include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • Is it necessary to have any kind of evidence?
  • How can I prevent HPV infection in the future?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask all the questions you have about the HPV infection.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • Do you have sex with more than one person? Does your partner?
  • Where you found the warts?
  • Are pain or itching?
  • Nothing seems to improve the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of HPV infection