2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43
Causes and symptoms of human papillomavirus
What is papilloma?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes changes in tissue growth. It causes various skin diseases and mucosal lesions. Modern medicine identifies more than a hundred types of the virus.
Papilloma is a benign tumor that grows on the surface of the skin and looks like a small nipple. The size of papillomas can be from one to two cm. Places of appearance: the membrane of the oral cavity, nose, pharynx, vocal cords; can form on the bladder and elsewhere.
Depending on the type of virus, diseases are also different: warts are caused by human papillomavirus type 2 and 4, flat warts - by type 3 and 10 viruses, genital warts - by types 6 and 11. Some types of the virus (16, 18, 31, 33, 35) cause cervical dysplasia or a favorable background for the development of cervical cancer. The human papillomavirus is transmitted by contact and household routes, remaining in the skin and mucous membranes.
Human papillomavirus is divided into two groups - high and low risk. The low-risk group includes types of virus (primarily 6 and 11) that cause genital warts. The high-risk group includes the 16th, 18th, 31st, 33rd, 35th types of the virus, which cause cervical dysplasia and increase the risk of cervical cancer.
Every year, millions of people with genital warts turn to doctors for help. But even more often, such a viral infection goes unnoticed, since it is asymptomatic.
Human papillomavirus symptoms
Human papillomavirus symptoms depend on the type of virus. Most often, the virus does not manifest in infected people, as it is controlled by the immune system.
Condylomas. Low-risk viruses appear with genital warts. This symptom is typical for only 2% of infected people. Condylomas are an indicator of weakened immunity of the carrier of the papilloma virus. Condylomas are localized mainly on the genitals, near the anus and in the places of contact during sexual intercourse. From the moment of infection with the virus until the appearance of genital warts, it can take weeks or years.
Condylomas are pinkish or flesh-colored warty growths. Their size ranges from a millimeter to several centimeters. Warts can grow, turning over time into multilayered formations (confluent warts).
In men, the site of genital warts is mainly the head of the penis, the crown of the head, the frenum of the foreskin; rashes may appear around the anus. In women, condylomas appear on the labia, clitoris, external opening of the urethra, in the vagina or on the cervix.
Depending on the state of the immune system, condylomas can grow, do not change for a long time, or disappear on their own. Warts are an extremely dangerous and unpleasant symptom, since they not only interfere with a full sexual life and cause discomfort, but can bleed and interfere with normal childbirth. Flat condyloma of the cervix is a sign of an acute or chronic infection.
Warts (papillomas). Benign skin tumors (papillomas) differ from viral ones in that the latter constantly appear and disappear. This process depends on the state of the human immune system. The color of the viral papillomas matches the color of the skin at the site of formation.
Cervical cancer. Against the background of the human papillomavirus, dysplasia or cervical cancer can develop, therefore, if a virus is detected, a biopsy is shown to sick women. Neglecting regular gynecological examinations increases the risk of developing the disease and its transition to advanced stages, the treatment of which becomes difficult.
General symptoms. In general terms, the symptoms of the human papillomavirus are pain and burning sensation in the genital area, pain can appear when the penis enters the vagina, as well as from simple touches. Also, an unusual discharge may be a possible symptom that will indicate a papilloma virus. The most obvious symptom is, of course, the appearance of the wart itself. But, as already mentioned, there may be no symptoms at all. Many men and women do not even suspect that they are carriers of the papilloma virus.
Causes of papillomas
The causes of infection with the human papillomavirus are mainly sex with the carrier of the virus. Contact can be both through the vagina and rectum, and oral. Infection can also occur through everyday life (through a handshake) or during childbirth. Weakened immunity can also become the cause of papillomas, and smoking, alcohol abuse, severe shock, flu, problems with the gastrointestinal tract can also serve as an impetus for the development of this viral infection.
This infection is extremely common, and all segments of the population who are sexually active are at risk. It is noteworthy that the use of a condom does not guarantee protection against infection, since the virus is transmitted through any contact with the skin or mucous membranes of the wearer.
The human papillomavirus does not enter the bloodstream or other tissues and organs. The deep layers of the skin become the breeding ground for the virus, and it itself is localized inside the cells. When the virus "matures", it travels to the infected epithelium, emerging to the surface. It is at this point that the virus becomes contagious. Being in the deep layers of the skin, the papilloma virus is dormant and does not pose a danger to other people.
Another reason for infection with the papilloma virus can be visiting places with high humidity: baths, saunas, swimming pools, beaches, that is, those places where a person has a minimum of clothes and when the skin is not protected. The infection is also transmitted through household items; if the mother has this virus, it will automatically be passed on to the baby during childbirth.
Papilloma treatment
Never try to pry, scratch, tear or cut the warts yourself, as this can worsen the condition and the infection can spread to other areas of the skin and spread. If papillomas and warts appear on the skin, be sure to immediately contact a dermatologist and do not wait for them to increase in size and spread throughout the body. If the wart is not removed in time, then a person exposes himself to the danger of infectious diseases that will seriously harm health.
Formations on the skin such as polyps and papillomas indicate serious problems in the body. Most often they arise as a result of metabolic disorders, with advanced gastritis, colitis, liver and kidney diseases, or gynecological diseases. To get rid of papilloma, you need to identify and eradicate the cause of its appearance. It is important to remember that removing warts and warts does not prevent them from recurring. The only way to prevent their reappearance is to generally strengthen the body's immune system.
It is noteworthy that the very presence of the papilloma virus in the body is not a sufficient reason for prescribing treatment. Treatment is prescribed only when certain symptoms appear. It includes antiviral therapy and strengthening the body's immune forces. The elimination of papillomas and genital warts occurs with the help of a laser, nitrogen (cryodestruction) and radio waves (radio scalpel). These methods are sterile and give quality results without leaving scars or scars.
An effective way to remove papillomas is electrocoagulation, since after such removal there are no traces on the skin. There is another method of removal, such as chemical coagulation. The method of injecting interferon drugs directly into the focus is also used, which helps to increase the immune system. Sometimes interferon and ozone therapy are used to treat the virus (ozone freezes the activity of the virus for a period of 5 to 10 years).
Prevention of papillomas
For the prevention of papillomas, complex tweaks are not needed, it is enough to avoid dampness as much as possible, be careful with cuts and scratches on the skin, since through them the infection enters the body. But the most important rule that must be followed is to keep your immunity in good shape and not be stressed.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
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