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 knows several variants of this microorganism, each of which has different manifestations: warts on the skin of the legs, hands and other parts of the body, genital warts on the mucous membranes of the genitals.HPV inhabits only the basal layer of the skin and is transmitted sexually.
Varieties
There are a huge number of virus variants.Some of them are not harmful to humans at all.However, about forty types of HPV cause the development of genital warts in both men and women.And there are those that cause the development of malignant cells.
Among all known types of human papillomavirus, the most common types are:
- HPV, which causes plantar warts, which look like blisters;
- HPV that causes the development of flat warts;
- HPV, which causes the growth of common warts;
- HPV, which causes the development of genital warts and papillomas on the genitals in men and women;
- HPV, which causes a rash that is precancerous.
Based on the probability of developing cancer, all HPVs are divided into safe viruses, low oncogenic risk viruses and high oncogenic risk viruses.The latter are observed on the genitals of men and women in the form of genital warts and papillomas.If growths of this type are detected, their immediate removal is necessary.
How is it transmitted?
Human papillomavirus is highly contagious.In most cases, the infection itself occurs in early childhood, during active exploration of the world around children, during which the child's skin is damaged (abrasions, scratches).Through such papilloma damage, viruses penetrate into the child's body.
Certain strains 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 transmitting the human papillomavirus:
- transmission of the virus from mother to child during childbirth.In this case, the development of papillomas in a newborn occurs on the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat, as well as in the area of the anus and genitals;
- self-infection, in which the virus is transmitted during shaving or hair removal from one part of the body to another;
- transmission of the virus at home (in the shower or in the pool).
Symptoms
The immune system of a healthy person is able to overcome the activity of the virus in the early stages of its development, and therefore the human papillomavirus in most cases 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.Collecting in a certain place on the skin or mucous membrane, viruses interfere with 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 is attached to the skin by a stem.Most often, papillomas are formed under the mammary glands in women, in the armpits, in the groin, on the neck, and in some cases on the face.The number and size of papillomas increases rapidly.
Warts are round, hard, rough growths with clearly defined boundaries of 2 mm to 1 cm in diameter.They occur most often on the hands, elbows and knees.
Condyloma acuminata are rather soft growths with a rough surface, attached to the skin by a stalk.They are most often formed in the area of the external genitalia and anus.The peculiarity of genital warts is their rapid growth in the form of clusters or cauliflowers.
In women
When entering the female body, the human papilloma virus causes the appearance of genital warts or genital papillomas (at the age of 15 to 30 years), and often leads to the development of erosion and dysplasia of the cervix.The first neoplasms usually appear within three months from the moment of infection and are found in most cases on the labia minora, in the cervical canal, on the skin around the anus and in the oral cavity.The infection can live in a woman's body for a long time without showing itself in any way.With the onset of menopause, a virus is activated that can cause malignancy of cells lining the genital organs.
In men
A characteristic feature of the 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, excessive work 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 papillomas), whose favorite habitat is the anus and penis.Men can also experience recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis.
Treatment of human papillomavirus
Modern medicine does not have any special medicine that can suppress the human papilloma virus.Most growths can disappear on their own within 6 months to 3 years.A previously transmitted type of virus develops lifelong immunity in the body.
Treatment of HPV in the vast majority of cases is not aimed at eliminating the pathogen, but at removing 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 methods of removal are: electrocoagulation using electric current, cryodestruction using liquid nitrogen.
Treatment of papillomas and warts involves the use of the following medical procedures:
- daily treatment of warts with 20% salicylic acid solution for a long period of time;
- injections into the source of infection;
- local treatment of warts with creams;
- cauterization of papillomas and warts with special preparations;
- cryotherapy (tumor removal 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 these include:
- treatment of warts with juice of celandine, dandelion, green apple, aloe;
- Compresses from porridge prepared from leaves of rabbit cabbage, frozen rowan, garlic, kalanchoe;
- baths with a strong infusion of St. John's wort and chamomile;
- treatment of 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 persistent process.But patience and persistence will be rewarded with positive results.