Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a specific pathogen that causes a chronic infectious disease called human papillomavirus infection, the most common infection among humans.
Modern medicine recognizes 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 genital organs.HPV resides exclusively in the basal layer of the skin and is sexually transmitted.
varieties
There are a large number of varieties of the virus.Some of them are not harmful to humans at all.However, about forty types of HPV cause the development of genital warts in men and women.And there are those that provoke the development of malignant cells.
Among all known varieties of human papillomavirus, the most common types are:
- HPV, which causes plantar warts, which look like calluses;
- HPV that causes the development of flat warts;
- HPV, which causes the growth of common warts;
- HPV, which provokes the development of genital warts and papillomas in the genital organs in men and women;
- HPV, which causes rashes that are precancerous.
Based on the possibility of developing cancer, all HPVs are divided into safe viruses, viruses with low oncogenic risk and viruses with high oncogenic risk.The latter are observed in the genital organs of men and women in the form of genital warts and papillomas.If growths of this type are detected, their urgent removal is necessary.
How is it transmitted?
Human papillomavirus is highly contagious.The infection itself in most cases occurs in early childhood, during children's active exploration of the world around them, during which damage to the child's skin occurs (scratches, scratches).It is through such an injury that papillomaviruses penetrate the child's body.
Certain types of the virus cause the development of genital warts in adults.The transmission mechanism in this case is exclusively sexual.The virus penetrates through microtraumas of the genital organs from one sexual partner to another, including anal intercourse, as well as oral sex.
In addition, there are several other ways of transmission of the human papillomavirus:
- transmission of the virus from mother to child during childbirth.In this case, the development of papillomas in a newborn occurs in the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat, as well as in the anus and genital area;
- self-infection, in which the virus is transferred during shaving or hair removal from one part of the body to another;
- transmission of the virus through household means (in the shower or in the pool).
Symptoms
The immune system of a healthy person is able to overcome the activity of the virus at an early stage of its development, and therefore in most cases the human papillomavirus does not manifest itself in any way.Decreased immunity allows the virus to become more active, which leads to the appearance of characteristic clinical symptoms.After being collected in a certain place on the skin or mucous membrane, the viruses 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 in the form of papillomas, genital warts and warts.
A papilloma is a soft, elongated growth that attaches to the skin with a stalk.Most often, papillomas form under the mammary glands in women, in the armpit, in the groin, on the neck and in some cases on the face.The number and size of papillomas is increasing rapidly.
Warts are round, hard, rough growths with clearly defined borders with a diameter of 2 mm to 1 cm.They are most often formed on the hands, elbows and knees.
Condyloma acuminata are rather soft growths with a rough surface, attached to the skin with a stalk.Most often they are formed in the area of the external genitalia and anus.A distinctive feature of genital warts is rapid growth in the form of clusters or cauliflower.
In women
When entering a woman's body, the human papillomavirus provokes the appearance of genital warts or genital papillomas (between the ages of 15 and 30), and also often leads to the development of cervical erosion and dysplasia.The first neoplasms appear, as a rule, within three months from the moment of infection and are located in most cases in the labia minora, in the cervical canal, in the skin around the anus and in the oral cavity.The infection can live in the female body for a long time without appearing in any way.The onset of menopause activates the virus, which can cause malignancy of the mucous cells of the genital organs.
In men
A characteristic feature of human papillomavirus in men 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 will lead to the appearance of the first clinical signs in the form of tumors on the skin and mucous membranes.Men can develop genital warts (genital papilloma), whose preferred habitat is the anus and penis.Men can also experience laryngeal papillomatosis 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 can disappear on their own over a period of 6 months to 3 years.A previously transferred type of virus develops lifelong immunity in the body.
The treatment of HPV in the vast majority of cases does not aim to eliminate the pathogen, but to eliminate 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 using electric current, cryodestruction using liquid nitrogen.
Treatment of papillomas and warts includes the use of the following medical procedures:
- daily treatment of warts with a 20% solution of salicylic acid for a long period of time;
- injections at 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
Treatment of HPV involves the use of traditional medicine methods.The most common of them include:
- treatment of warts with celandine juice, dandelion, green apple, aloe;
- compresses with gruel prepared from the leaves of rabbit cabbage, frozen rowan, garlic, Kalanchoe;
- baths with a strong infusion of St. John's wort and chamomile;
- treating warts with a decoction of willow bark in vinegar.
You should not expect immediate recovery from treatment with folk remedies.This is a long and ongoing process.But patience and persistence will be rewarded with positive results.