Papillomavirus has become widespread.Experts have been able to discover hundreds of its types, each of which provokes unique symptoms.It's quite easy to get infected with it - all you have to do is contact a carrier.To protect yourself from an infectious agent, you need to understand how HPV is transmitted.
Main features
Human papillomavirus includes a group of microorganisms that include 100 subspecies, and 13 of them can cause tumors.Such varieties are called oncogenes.HPV is mainly transmitted through sexual contact.Particularly dangerous are types 16 and 18, which in 70% of cases cause cancer.Degeneration into atypical cells is observed in the area of the external genital organs, as well as in the cervix.In some countries, a vaccine against oncogenic strains has been approved and is being actively used.
After the initiation of sexual activity, infection is equally common in both men and women.There are types of HPV that do not cause problems.Sometimes the infection passes by itself, without any external intervention.This can take up to a few months, but some types of HPV-caused disease can take up to a few years to clear up.
HPV types 6 and 11 provoke the formation of genital warts.They are quite sticky.HPV has its own DNA, which has a spiral shape.Such a microorganism does not have a shell.The virion reaches 55 nanometers in diameter and can be present for a long time on various surfaces, as well as in air and water.Some varieties are oncogenic, that is, they can cause the degeneration of the cellular epithelium into an atypical one.HPV types are designated by special numbers. Low oncogenicity are:
- 42;
- 43;
- 44.
Types 16 and 18 are considered dangerous.Strain 33, which can cause cancer in women, is also often found.Accumulation of the infectious agent occurs in mucosal cells.
Here, reproduction of the microorganism is observed, after which persistence occurs in different layers of the epithelium.From this moment, the process of changing cells into atypical cells begins.
Transmission routes
Scientists managed to find out exactly how the human papillomavirus is transmitted to women and men not so long ago.It penetrates the epithelium only after direct contact with the skin or mucous membrane.Typically, this phenomenon is observed in the presence of microtrauma.This requires contact with an infected person.There is also an internal route of infection, which today raises many questions.
Human papillomavirus has several routes of transmission.Sometimes the infection can occur in public places, for example, in swimming pools and baths.It is possible that the infection enters the mucous membrane when the skin is damaged during shaving, nail cutting, etc.Newborn babies become infected when they pass through the mother's birth canal.At risk are medical workers who perform operations on patients with HPV.Urological and gynecological examinations are dangerous, but this can be avoided by using disposable gloves and medical instruments.
People who work with raw fish and meat can also become infected.There is also a special concept - "butcher's warts".And if earlier there was an opinion that the causative agent of the disease was transmitted exclusively through sexual contact, then after the introduction of the polymerase chain reaction method it became clear that there are many more routes of infection.
It is possible to determine whether papillomas are contagious only after an accurate diagnosis is made.After entering the human body, the virus passes through the bloodstream and attaches itself to the epithelium of the genital organs, in the anus.It then penetrates the epithelium and its DNA, forcing the cells to function differently.The damaged epidermis grows and separates. The incubation period for HPV is no more than 3 months, but in some circumstances this period can be shortened or extended to several years.
HPV can remain latent in the body for a long time, sometimes it is present even from birth.The virus can be transmitted from person to person quite easily.Sometimes you can become infected with a pathogenic microorganism through the saliva of a sick person (especially through kissing).Its prevalence today is great.Individual people are carriers and are capable of infecting others.External manifestations of pathology are detected in 1/3 of women of reproductive age during routine examinations.The presence of such a virus in the body is more expected by specialists than its absence.
PVI and its features
Human papillomavirus infection is a disease caused by an infectious agent present in the skin and mucous membranes.It's called HPV.After entering the body, after some time, the cells grow in the form of warts, condylomas and papillomas.Half of the people who are sexually active have faced this virus.The infection can take a year or more to appear and sometimes causes no symptoms at all.In most cases, there is a repeated course of the disease, sometimes self-healing is possible.
Among the known urogenital viral infections, PVI is the most common.Its clinical manifestations are different.Of the 100 species known today, 30 lead to the formation of growths in the anogenital area.Some types of HPV can lead to malignant tumors of the cervix and external genitalia in women and men.Carriage can occur when no symptoms appear.These forms are discovered by chance during an examination.
The papilloma virus manifests itself everywhere.This can be the skin under the mammary glands, neck and armpit.It is active in the mucosa.Condylomas on the genitals contribute to discomfort and spoil aesthetics.Such growths can provoke hemorrhage.
The same prevalence is observed in both sexes.Papilloma virus occurs more often in people with weak immune systems.Those who abuse alcohol and cigarettes and are promiscuous are at greater risk of infection.
The microorganism is also activated in young people if an unfavorable situation has occurred. An example would be the long-term use of certain medications., gastrointestinal diseases, viral respiratory infections.People who often go to the beach should also be careful, as there is high humidity here.In addition, the skin is almost not covered with clothing.
Infection can occur not only from casual acquaintances, but also from people with whom a healthy person lives.
Characteristic symptoms
Most known types of HPV do not cause painful symptoms.But if this Types 16 or 18, precancerous pathologies are possible.Such conditions cannot be ignored.The process of rebirth can take years, so an infected person always has the opportunity to seek help at the right time.By the way, calluses are also formed with the participation of the papilloma virus.
Throughout life, a person's health changes.While the immune system is relatively strong, then only common warts or harmless juvenile neoplasms are likely to appear.With more serious problems with the body's protection, papillomas appear on a thin stem.They are located on the eyelids, under the arms and on the neck.For prevention purposes, experts recommend removing such tumors.
Genital warts are caused by HPV strains 6 and 11. These viruses are transmitted through sexual contact.In men, the affected areas are the coronary groove of the head of the penis and the foreskin. For women it is:
- labia;
- the area near the vagina;
- the anus.
If such growths are not treated for a long time, the pathology progresses.Women may experience vaginal bleeding after intercourse.You may also experience discomfort, foul-smelling discharge, and pain in your pelvis, legs, or back.Symptoms increase as the infectious agent spreads.
About 80% of women have to deal with viral infections.If we are talking about HPV, then its entry into the body is facilitated by the early start of intimate life, sexual intercourse without using a condom.The number of diseases caused by HPV has increased significantly in recent years.The appearance of cervical cancer in young girls who are sexually active is explained by the imperfect functioning of the immune system.During this period, the hormonal status does not have time to fully settle.
Treatment methods
In women between the ages of 20 and 30, the human papillomavirus infection can clear itself from the body after a year.This does not even require special treatment, as the immune system copes with the function of getting rid of microorganisms.But correctly selected treatment tactics are still preferable, regardless of gender and age.This is a 90% success rate.
Each doctor has his own opinion about treatment tactics.But there are foundations on which all specialists rely.
Therapy should be comprehensive.Typical destructive methods for surgical intervention are not always justified.Doctors usually recommend restorative, antiviral and immunomodulatory agents.It is advisable that both partners undergo such treatment.Also, to get rid of HPV effectively, you must use condoms.