Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common disease that develops due to an infection of viral origin.Papillomavirus occurs in most people, regardless of gender.But in frequent cases, this virus does not show characteristic symptoms that can be used to determine the presence of infection.
What is HPV infection
Many people do not understand where this virus comes from and what it is.Human papillomavirus is a chronic viral disease.It is easily transmitted through contact with infected people.This virus appears as a result of the causative agent of chronic human papillomavirus infection, which consists of different types, entering the body.However, some of these viruses do not cause harm.But there is another category of viruses, due to which new growths appear on the surface of the skin and mucous membrane.There are also the most dangerous types that not only affect the genital area, but also cause cancer.
When HPV enters the body, it does not immediately have a negative effect, since it needs to go through a certain process through which it can gradually disrupt the functioning of the body.
First, it must penetrate the cell and then securely attach itself to it.When the body's protective functions decrease, the infection can cause clinical manifestations.But, despite the capabilities of the virus, the body is quite capable of destroying it on its own.The virus may be present in the body for a long time, but the disease may not appear immediately.After all, the immune system fights viruses, destroying the pathogenic factor before it can cause harm to health.But since the defenses weaken with age, HPV can cause cervical cancer in women, and cancer of the penis and larynx in men.
Why does infection occur?
This infection is often transmitted sexually, even if contraception is used.There are also other situations when you can easily become infected with HPV, these include:
- infection through scratches or abrasions;
- coming into contact with infected skin;
- wearer's hygiene items;
- surgical instruments.
If a woman is sick with this virus and is pregnant, she can infect her child.
You should be especially careful when using someone else's razor or towel, as the virus can remain on the personal items of people who have the infection.There are cases when infection occurs through contact with affected skin surfaces.This usually happens during massage.Medical personnel also have a high risk of infection from inhaling dust during laser removal of genital warts.
However, without certain conditions, it is difficult for the virus to show its activity.Factors that contribute to the manifestation of HPV:
- hypothermia of the body;
- early sexual life;
- hormonal imbalances;
- consequences of medical procedures such as abortion or intrauterine device;
- lack of hygiene;
- smoking and drinking alcohol;
- the presence of another infectious disease in the form of genital herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea;
- pregnancy.
Manifestation of HPV infection
Viruses differ from other microorganisms in that they must invade a cell and then connect to the nucleus.After all these actions, the affected cell will receive a signal from the viral particles to synthesize proteins.
Since the immune system can suppress the activity of the virus, a person often becomes a carrier of the infection without even knowing it.In this case, HPV occurs without obvious symptoms, which is the main reason for the active spread of various diseases.If the patient does not undergo examination, he will not know that there is a human papillomavirus infection in his body, since it develops without external manifestation.Thus, the patient will continue to unknowingly infect other people.However, HPV does not live long in the external environment, since it has low resistance to its aggressive factors.For this reason, a healthy person becomes quickly infected.
When the virus reaches the surface of the skin, the basal layer of the epidermis is affected.However, it can remain latent for a long time without causing symptoms of infection.
As soon as favorable conditions appear, the virus will begin to negatively affect the cells, resulting in symptoms appearing.
Main symptoms of HPV
Human papillomavirus infection can be determined by certain signs, namely by formations that appear in various places of high humidity.Papillomavirus is usually localized in areas of the skin and mucous membranes.It especially often manifests itself in the oral cavity, conjunctivitis, larynx, bronchi, rectum and genitals.
Indirect signs of HPV appear in the form of a precancerous condition.Oncological diseases develop rarely.But the exception is cervical cancer and penile cancer, since this stage of the disease is often observed.However, you should not panic, because in the early stages, cancer is easily treatable.
An indirect symptom is detected if the mucous membrane or skin is covered with only single warts.
What does papilloma look like?
The human papillomavirus manifests itself as neoplasms that are similar to ordinary warts, but unlike them, they are softer.Warts caused by papillomavirus look like small nodules.Papilloma in the form of warts can be seen on the hands.HPV is also usually localized on the face or leg.Often such warts do not cause negative consequences.
The manifestation of the virus can be in the form of condyloma, which, unlike warts, grows in the genital area.If such tumors are not treated, they can actively progress.
Moreover, their presence significantly interferes with sexual activity, and there may be painful sensations during urination.Condylomas are easily damaged, they can constantly bleed, cause irritation in the perineum, which ultimately leads to the development of bacterial infections.
How does HPV develop?
The virus goes through 3 stages of development:
- HPV infection in the body;
- precancer;
- Cancer.
The last stage should be avoided as it has irreversible consequences.Even precancerous conditions can be successfully treated.
The incubation period for HPV takes about a month.However, the virus can simply remain in the body without causing anything.
Being infected with HPV does not mean that a person will immediately develop skin manifestations and cancer.It is impossible to say exactly how long it takes for the human papillomavirus to manifest itself, since it is individual and depends on the characteristics of the body.
For HPV infection, the incubation period is 3 weeks.The period can stretch up to 9–12 months.
The average is 3 months.If there are no clinical and histological signs of infection, this may mean that the human papillomavirus is asymptomatic.
If the virus does not go away on its own after a few years, this means that it has become a chronic form of carriage.In this case, the virus particle has taken root well in the cell, which is why active destructive actions can begin at any moment.In this case, the virus will begin to actively produce proteins, which will disrupt all phases of the cell cycle.As a result, even old cells that should no longer reproduce will divide.But there may still be certain mechanisms that will restrain the influence of viral particles.Epithelial cells multiply rapidly due to the fact that HPV aggressively affects them.This causes the nuclei of infected cells to take on an irregular shape and change color.This process is considered a precancerous condition.
If epithelial cells actively and uncontrollably divide under the influence of a virus, this leads to genetic problems and mutations.In addition, tissues have the ability to degenerate into cancer.The transition to the malignant oncological stage depends on the state of female sex hormones.
HPV is classified according to its oncogenic type:
- papillomaviruses that do not cause cancer;
- viruses that have a low risk of cancer;
- infections with an average percentage of cancerous degeneration;
- types of papillomaviruses that cause cancer.
Diagnosis of the virus
As soon as there is a suspicion of infection, it is better to immediately consult a doctor, since papilloma is a serious source of viruses.Since if the integrity of the virus is compromised, the virus can be released into the environment, you can easily infect other people even without sexual contact.To detect the presence of the virus in the body, special diagnostics are carried out.It is recommended to carry it out when various STIs and urogenital infections are detected.
How to determine HPV
Human papillomavirus in adults is first diagnosed through a clinical examination.To find out in detail the type of virus and stage, examinations are carried out in the form of extended colposcopy, cytological and histological studies of biopsy samples.The virus can be detected by analyzing DNA, antibodies and oncoproteins (E6, E7).Since there are HPV negative and HPV positive, it is important to determine the status of the virus in the body.
If the examination reveals a high number of HPV, in this case the infection has become malignant.Therefore, it is necessary to do a quantitative analysis to clarify the genotype of the virus.
If studies have shown reference values, this is the norm, that is, there is no papillomavirus in the body.As a diagnosis, women undergo colposcopy, and men need to undergo a full examination by a surgeon or urologist.The sooner the disease is detected, the better the prognosis.
HPV treatment
Since this virus is epitheliotropic, it lives only on the surface of the skin or mucous membrane, and does not penetrate into the deeper layers, so many are wondering whether an HPV infection can go away on its own.The virus can actually disappear without external influence.After all, human skin and mucous membranes are constantly changing.Since the surface layer of the skin is renewed after some time, the virus can be removed from the old cells on its own.According to statistics, cases have been recorded where HPV disappears on its own within three years.
Which doctor should I contact?
In some cases, treatment of the disease is not required, namely, if there are no characteristic warts and precancerous signs.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 there is a suspicion of the presence of the human papillomavirus in the body.You should visit a therapist or dermatologist.In the future, consultation with other specialized specialists may be required, depending on the location of the formation.
Treatment options
To remove the human papillomavirus from the body, it is necessary to undergo complex therapy:
- antiviral drugs;
- immunomodulators and multivitamins;
- if necessary, removal of papillomas.
As therapy, medications are prescribed that strengthen and stimulate the immune system.They contain vitamins B6, C, E and adaptogens.Medicines can be in the form of tablets, injections, tampons with ointment, vaginal suppositories.This depends on the progression of the disease and the area of papilloma occurrence.
Papillomavirus in an adult is usually found in immunodeficiency, since it is difficult for the body to cope with harmful organisms on its own.To fight such infections, it is necessary to take special medications that contain substances to enhance immunity.
Modern high-quality medicine helps to quickly get rid of HPV, preventing possible negative manifestations in the form of cancer.
It is not recommended to self-medicate, as there is a high risk of the virus progressing.Self-medication can be harmful, especially for genital diseases.
Depending on the individual characteristics of the body and the manifestation of the disease, the doctor selects an appropriate treatment method that can prevent further development of the papillomavirus.
Warts can be easily removed by medical procedures.But papilloma can go away on its own.If there are a large number of papillomas and warts in one place, only a few large ones are removed, and the rest may disappear on their own.Since the type of virus may be malignant, it is necessary to begin treatment.Therapy does not need to be delayed if it concerns a cosmetic problem, since papillomas can appear on the face, especially on the nose, eyelids and lips.
You can remove affected tissue:
- surgical intervention;
- electrocoagulation;
- laser method;
- cryodestruction with liquid nitrogen;
- chemical burning.
Warts should not be picked or cut off.Indeed, because of this, numerous neoplasms can arise.It is better to remove papilloma from a specialist who will carry out the procedure taking into account the condition of the papillomavirus.
The development of clinical HPV can be prevented with a vaccine.Immunization is recommended for girls in adolescence before their first sexual intercourse.Thus, the body will be able to protect itself from the harmful effects of infection, without giving the virus favorable soil for development.Before vaccination, you should consult with a dermatovenerologist who treats sexually transmitted and skin diseases.
If HPV cannot be destroyed, relapses may occur, in which papilloma appears in the same place or in a different area of the skin.
Preventive measures
To avoid developing human papillomavirus, it is important to find out what the infection may be causing.Since viral particles are destroyed by a strong immune system, preventing papillomavirus begins with boosting the immune system.After all, this way the defenses can effectively fight any HPV virus, preventing it from spreading and causing illness.To do this, it is important to switch to proper nutrition so that the body regularly receives the necessary portion of vitamins and minerals.
Comprehensive prevention helps maintain the immune system in a normal state.After all, in order not to get sick with papillomavirus, the body must effectively fight it.To do this, it is advisable to lead a healthy lifestyle and give up bad habits.It is important to properly organize your work and rest schedule, as well as engage in moderate physical activity.After all, overwork can negatively affect the immune system.
Since other people's hygiene items are considered a source of infection, it is better to refuse to use them.It is recommended to exclude casual sex and use only barrier methods of contraception.
For timely diagnosis of papillomavirus, women need to regularly visit a gynecologist, and men a urologist.By following clinical recommendations, each patient can fully get rid of or prevent the occurrence of infection and other negative consequences of this viral disease.