Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common disease caused by infection of viral origin.Papillomavirus occurs in most people, regardless of gender.But in many cases, the virus does not exhibit characteristic symptoms that can be used to determine whether an infection is present.
What is HPV infection
Many people don’t understand where this virus came from and what it is.Human papillomavirus is a chronic viral disease.It is easily spread through contact with an infected person.This virus occurs when different types of chronic human papillomavirus infection pathogens enter the body.However, some of these viruses do no harm.But there is another group of viruses that cause new growth on skin and mucous membrane surfaces.There are also some of the most dangerous types, which not only affect the genital area but can also cause cancer.
When HPV enters the human body, it will not have an immediate negative impact because it needs to go through a certain process and gradually disrupt the body's functions.
First, it must penetrate the cell and then attach firmly to the cell.When the body's protective function declines, infection can cause clinical manifestations.But despite the virus's power, the human body is perfectly capable of destroying it on its own.The virus may remain in the body for a long time, but illness may not appear immediately.After all, the immune system fights viruses, destroying the disease-causing agents before they cause harm to health.But because defenses weaken with age, HPV can cause cervical cancer in women and penile and throat cancer in men.
Why do infections occur?
Even with birth control, this infection is often sexually transmitted.You are also susceptible to HPV infection under other conditions, including:
- Infections from scratches or abrasions;
- contact with infected skin;
- hygiene products for the wearer;
- Surgical instruments.
If a woman is infected with the virus and becomes pregnant, she may infect her baby.
Be especially careful when using someone else's razor or towel, as the virus may remain on an infected person's personal belongings.In some cases, the infection occurs through contact with the affected skin surface.This usually happens during a massage.Medical staff are also at high risk for infection from inhaled dust during laser genital wart removal.
But without certain conditions, it is difficult for the virus to show activity.Factors that contribute to HPV manifestations:
- hypothermia;
- premature sex;
- hormonal imbalance;
- the consequences of medical procedures such as abortion or IUDs;
- lack of sanitation;
- Smoking and drinking;
- The presence of another infectious disease such as genital herpes, chlamydia, or gonorrhea;
- Pregnant.
Manifestations of HPV infection
Viruses differ from other microorganisms in that they must invade a cell and then attach to the nucleus.After all these actions, the affected cells will receive signals from the viral particles to synthesize proteins.
Because the immune system suppresses the activity of the virus, a person often becomes a carrier of the infection without knowing it.In this case, HPV occurs without obvious symptoms, which is the main reason for the active spread of various diseases.If a patient does not undergo testing, he will not know that he has a human papillomavirus infection in his body because the infection occurs without any external manifestations.In this way, the sick person can continue to infect others without knowing it.However, HPV does not survive long in the external environment because it has low resistance to its invasive factors.Therefore, healthy people can quickly become infected.
When the virus reaches the surface of the skin, the basal layer of the epidermis is affected.However, it can lie dormant for long periods of time without causing symptoms of infection.
Once favorable conditions arise, the virus begins to negatively affect cells, causing symptoms to appear.
Main symptoms of HPV
Human papillomavirus infection can be identified by certain signs, namely by the appearance of patterns in various places with high humidity.Papillomaviruses are usually located in areas of the skin and mucous membranes.It occurs especially frequently in the mouth, conjunctivitis, larynx, bronchi, rectum, and genitals.
Indirect symptoms of HPV appear in the form of precancerous lesions.Oncological diseases occur rarely.Exceptions are made for cervical and penile cancers, as this stage of the disease is frequently observed.However, there is no need to panic as cancer is easily treatable in its early stages.
Indirect symptoms can be detected if the mucous membrane or skin is covered with only a single wart.
What do papillomas look like?
Human papillomavirus appears as tumors similar to common warts, but unlike common warts, they are softer.Warts caused by papillomavirus look like small nodules.Papillomas in the form of warts can be seen on the hands.HPV is also usually concentrated on the face or legs.Usually, such warts have no negative consequences.
The virus can manifest itself in the form of genital warts, which, unlike warts, grow in the genital area.If such tumors are left untreated, they may aggressively progress.
In addition, their presence seriously interferes with sexual activity, and urination may be painful.Genital warts are easily damaged and can bleed continuously, causing perineal irritation and eventually the development of a bacterial infection.
How does HPV develop?
The development of the virus has gone through 3 stages:
- HPV infection in the body;
- Precancerous lesions;
- cancer.
The final stage should be avoided as it can have irreversible consequences.Even precancerous lesions can be successfully treated.
The incubation period of HPV is approximately one month.However, the virus can simply remain in the body without causing any consequences.
Being infected with HPV does not mean a person will immediately develop skin symptoms and cancer.It's impossible to say exactly how long it takes for human papillomavirus to manifest, as it is individual and depends on the body's characteristics.
The incubation period for HPV infection is 3 weeks.This term can be up to 9 to 12 months.
The average is 3 months.If there are no clinical and histological signs of infection, this may mean that human papillomavirus is asymptomatic.
If the virus does not go away on its own after a few years, it means it has become a chronic form of transmission.In this case, the virus particles have already taken root in the cell, which is why active destructive actions can begin at any time.In this case, the virus will start actively producing proteins, which will disrupt all stages of the cell cycle.As a result, even old cells that should no longer reproduce divide.But there may still be mechanisms that inhibit the impact of viral particles.Because HPV strongly affects epithelial cells, epithelial cells multiply rapidly.This causes the nuclei of infected cells to take on an irregular shape and change color.This process is considered precancerous.
If epithelial cells divide actively and uncontrollably under the influence of the virus, genetic problems and mutations can result.Additionally, tissue has the ability to degenerate into cancer.The transition to the malignant stage depends on the status of female sex hormones.
HPV is classified according to the type of cancer it causes:
- Papillomavirus, which does not cause cancer;
- viruses with lower cancer risk;
- Infections with an average percentage of cancer;
- Types of papillomaviruses that cause cancer.
Diagnosis of viruses
It is best to seek immediate medical attention as soon as an infection is suspected, as papillomas are serious viral sources.Because the virus is released into the environment if its integrity is compromised, it is easy to infect others even without sexual contact.In order to detect the presence of the virus in the body, special diagnostics are required.It is recommended when various sexually transmitted infections and genitourinary tract infections are detected.
How to determine HPV
Human papillomavirus in adults is first diagnosed by clinical examination.In order to obtain a detailed understanding of the type and stage of the virus, examinations are performed in the form of extended colposcopy, cytological and histological studies of biopsy samples.Viruses can be detected by analyzing DNA, antibodies and oncoproteins (E6, E7).Since there are negative and positive HPV types, it is important to determine the status of the virus in the body.
If the test shows a higher number of HPV, in this case, the infection has become malignant.Therefore, it is necessary to conduct quantitative analysis to clarify the genotype of the virus.
If there is a study showing a reference value, this is the norm, i.e. papillomavirus is not present in the body.For diagnosis, women need a colposcopy and men need a full examination by a surgeon or urologist.The earlier the disease is detected, the better the prognosis.
HPV treatment
Because the virus is an epitheliotropic virus that lives only on the surface of the skin or mucous membranes and does not penetrate deeper layers, many people wonder whether an HPV infection can go away on its own.Viruses can actually disappear without external influence.After all, human skin and mucous membranes are constantly changing.As the surface layer of skin renews over time, viruses can clear themselves from old cells.According to statistics, there have been cases of HPV disappearing on its own within three years.
Which doctor should I contact?
In some cases, namely if there are no characteristic warts and precancerous signs, treatment of the disease is not needed.However, it is necessary to determine the stage of development of the disease, and for this it is important to know which doctor to contact if the presence of human papillomavirus in the body is suspected.You should see a therapist or dermatologist.In the future, depending on where the formation is located, other specialized experts may need to be consulted.
treatment plan
Removing human papillomavirus from the body requires complex treatments:
- antiviral drugs;
- immune modulators and multivitamins;
- If necessary, remove the papilloma.
As treatment, prescription medications can strengthen and stimulate the immune system.They contain vitamins B6, C, E and adaptogens.Medications can come in the form of tablets, injections, tampons with ointment, and vaginal suppositories.This depends on the progression of the disease and the area where the papilloma develops.
Papillomavirus in adults usually occurs in cases of immunodeficiency, since the body has difficulty dealing with harmful organisms on its own.To fight such infections, special medications containing immunity-boosting substances are taken.
Modern high-quality drugs help to quickly eliminate HPV and prevent possible negative manifestations in the form of cancer.
Self-medication is not recommended as the risk of viral transmission is high.Self-medication can be harmful, especially for genital conditions.
Depending on the individual characteristics of the body and the manifestations of the disease, doctors choose appropriate treatments that can prevent further progression of the papillomavirus.
Warts can be easily removed through medical procedures.But papillomas can disappear on their own.If there are a lot of papillomas and warts in one area, remove only a few of the large ones and the rest may go away on their own.Since the type of virus can be malignant, it is necessary to start treatment.If there is a cosmetic concern, there is no need to postpone treatment, as papillomas can appear on the face, especially the nose, eyelids and lips.
You can remove affected tissue:
- surgical intervention;
- electrocoagulation;
- laser method;
- Destroyed by liquid nitrogen freezing;
- chemical combustion.
Warts should not be picked or removed.In fact, many tumors may arise because of this.Papillomas are best removed by a specialist, who will perform the surgery based on the presence of the papilloma virus.
The development of clinical HPV can be prevented with vaccines.It is recommended that adolescent girls get vaccinated before having sex for the first time.Therefore, the body will be able to protect itself from the harmful effects of the infection without providing the virus with a favorable environment for growth.Before getting vaccinated, you should consult with a dermatologist who treats sexually transmitted diseases and skin diseases.
If HPV is not eradicated, recurrence may occur, in which papillomas appear in the same location or in a different area of the skin.
Precautions
To avoid contracting human papillomavirus, it is important to find out what may be causing the infection.Since viral particles are destroyed by a strong immune system, preventing papillomavirus starts with strengthening the immune system.After all, in this way the defense system effectively fights against any HPV virus, preventing it from spreading and causing disease.For this reason, it is important to turn to proper nutrition so that the body receives necessary vitamins and minerals on a regular basis.
Comprehensive prevention helps maintain a normal immune system.After all, in order not to get infected with papillomavirus, the body must fight it effectively.For this, it is recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle and give up bad habits.It is very important to arrange your work and rest time appropriately and engage in moderate physical activity.After all, overexertion can have a negative impact on the immune system.
Since other people's hygiene products are considered a source of infection, it is best to refuse to use them.It is recommended to exclude casual sex and use only barrier methods of contraception.
For prompt diagnosis of papillomavirus, women need to see a gynecologist regularly and men need to see a urologist regularly.By following clinical recommendations, every patient can completely escape or prevent the onset of infection and other negative consequences of this viral disease.