The papillomavirus has become widespread.Experts have managed to discover hundreds of species, each of which causes unique symptoms.It is quite easy to get the infection - 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
The human papillomavirus comprises a group of microorganisms that includes 100 subspecies, of which 13 can cause tumors.Such varieties are called oncogenes.HPV is transmitted mainly through sexual contact.Particularly dangerous are types 16 and 18, which cause cancer in 70% of cases.Degeneration into atypical cells is observed in the area of the external genitalia and on the cervix.In some states, a vaccine against oncogenic strains has been approved and is actively used.
After the onset of sexual activity, the infection is equally common in both men and women.There are types of HPV that do not cause problems.Sometimes the infection disappears on its own, without any external intervention.This can take several months, but some types of diseases caused by HPV can take several years to go away.
HPV types 6 and 11 cause the formation of genital warts.They are quite contagious.HPV has its own DNA, which has a helical 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 degeneration of the cellular epithelium into an atypical one.HPV types are designated by special numbers. With low oncogenicity they are:
- 42;
- 43;
- 44.
Types 16 and 18 are considered dangerous.Strain 33, which can cause cancer in women, is also often found.The accumulation of the infectious agent occurs in the cells of the mucous membranes.
Here the replication of the microorganism is observed, after which persistence occurs in different layers of the epithelium.From this moment the process of transition of cells into atypical cells begins.
Routes of transmission
Scientists managed to find out exactly how the human papillomavirus is transmitted in women and men not so long ago.It penetrates the epithelium only after direct contact with the skin or mucous membranes.Typically, this phenomenon is observed in the presence of microtraumas.This requires contact with an infected person.There is also an internal route of infection, which today raises many questions.
The human papillomavirus has several routes of transmission.Sometimes infection can occur in public places, for example in swimming pools and bathhouses.It is possible for the infection to penetrate the mucous membranes when the skin is damaged during shaving, cutting nails, etc.Newborns become infected when they pass through their mother's birth canal.At risk are healthcare workers who perform surgery on patients affected by 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 warts".And if previously it was believed that the causative agent of the disease is 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 making a correct diagnosis.After entering the human body, the virus passes through the bloodstream and attaches to the epithelium of the genitals, in the anus.It then penetrates the epithelium and its DNA, forcing cells to function differently.The damaged epidermis grows and divides. The incubation period of HPV does not exceed 3 months, but in some circumstances this period may be shortened or extended to several years.
HPV can remain latent in the body for a long time, sometimes even present 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 childbearing age during routine examinations.Specialists expect the presence of such a virus in the body more than its absence.
PVI and its characteristics
Human papillomavirus infection is a disease caused by an infectious agent present on the skin and mucous membranes.It's called HPV.After entering the body, after some time, the cells grow in the form of warts, warts and papillomas.Half of sexually active people have contracted this virus.The infection can take a year or more to show up and sometimes cause no symptoms at all.In most cases, there is a recurrent course of the disease, sometimes self-healing is possible.
Among the known urogenital viral infections, PVI is the most widespread.Its clinical manifestations are varied.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 shapes are discovered by chance during an exam.
The papilloma virus occurs everywhere.This can be the skin under the mammary glands, on the neck and armpits.It is active on the mucous membranes.Warts on the genitals contribute to discomfort and disruption of aesthetics.These growths can cause bleeding.
The same prevalence is observed in both sexes.The papilloma virus appears more often in people with a weak immune system.Those who abuse alcohol and cigarettes and are promiscuous are at greater risk of infection.
The microorganism is also activated in young people if unfavorable situations have occurred. An example would be the long-term use of some drugs., gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory viral infections.Even those who often go to the beach have to be careful, because there is high humidity here.Furthermore, the skin is almost not covered by clothing.
Infection can occur not only from casual acquaintances, but also from people with whom a healthy person lives.
Characteristic symptoms
The most well-known types of HPV do not cause painful symptoms.But if this types 16 or 18, precancerous pathologies are possible.These conditions cannot be ignored.The rebirth process can take years, so an infected person always has the opportunity to seek help in a timely manner.By the way, calluses on the feet are also formed with the participation of the papilloma virus.
Over the course of a lifetime, a person's health changes.Although the immune system is relatively strong, only common warts or harmless juvenile neoplasms are likely to occur.With more serious problems with the body's defenses, papillomas appear on a thin stalk.They are localized on the eyelids, under the armpits and on the neck.For preventive 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 damaged areas are the coronary sulcus of the head of the penis and the foreskin. For women it is:
- lip;
- area near the vagina;
- anus.
If such growths are left untreated for a long time, the pathology progresses.Women may experience bleeding on the vaginal mucosa after sexual intercourse.You may also experience discomfort, discharge with an unpleasant odor, and pain in your pelvis, legs, or back.Symptoms increase as the infectious agent spreads.
About 80% of women face viral infections.If we talk about HPV, its entry into the body is facilitated by the early start of intimate life, by sexual intercourse without the use of a condom.The number of diseases caused by HPV has increased significantly in recent years.The occurrence of cervical cancer in sexually active girls is explained by the imperfect functioning of the immune system.During this period, the hormonal state does not have time to fully stabilize.
Treatment methods
In women between the ages of 20 and 30, human papillomavirus infection may leave the body on its own after a year.This does not even require special treatment, since the immune system takes care of the function of eliminating microorganisms.But correctly chosen therapeutic tactics are still preferable, regardless of gender and age.This is a 90% positive result.
Each doctor has his own opinion regarding treatment tactics.But there are fundamentals that all specialists rely on.
Therapy must be complete.Typical destructive methods of surgical intervention are not always justified.Doctors usually recommend restorative, antiviral and immunomodulatory agents.It is advisable for both partners to undergo such treatment.Also, to effectively eliminate HPV, you should use a condom.