Papilloma is a benign formation on the skin or mucous membranes caused by one of the many types of viruses in the Papovaviridae family. Human papillomavirus or HPV is the generic name for a group of non-enveloped DNA viruses that are transmitted in various ways. HPV infection can occur during sexual intercourse, with micro-trauma to the mucous membranes and skin, during childbirth (from an infected mother to a child).
Human papillomavirus in adults
Human papilloma infection (PVI) is quite common. Numerous studies show that more than 80% of the young population is a carrier. The infection, which enters the body, affects the squamous epithelium of the skin and can multiply in it for years. Its various types, which affect the mucosa, cause the appearance of benign conjunctival, oral and genital formations.
Papillomas in women
Human papillomavirus infection is equally threatening to both men and women. But some types of pathogenic microorganisms pose a great danger to the health and life of women. Numerous studies have shown that HPV can cause cervical cancer.
Papillomavirus in pregnant women
A strong weakening of the immune system and hormonal imbalance can lead to active reproduction and symptomatic manifestations of the papillomavirus, which has been inactive in the body for a long time. During pregnancy, the appearance of papillomas on the skin and mucous membranes can scare pregnant women. In this case, the woman needs an urgent consultation with a gynecologist.
HPV is not a contraindication for conception, although there is a high probability of infection of the baby during delivery.
Papillomas in men
Papilloma in men for the most part does not give clinical manifestations. But men are both a source of infection and infect their sexual partners. In the normal state of the immune system, the activity of pathogenic microorganisms is reduced to zero. But with immunodeficiencies, the situation can change, and the presence of the papillomavirus in the blood will begin to manifest itself actively and, in some cases, aggressively.
The type of sexually transmitted infection that causes genital warts affects men and women equally. HPV 16 and 18, which can cause cervical cancer in women, are rarely found in men. Once in the body, the papillomavirus of this type remains in the urethral canal for a time, after which it is eliminated due to the absence of a favorable environment for its reproduction. Genital genital warts in men can appear:
- most often in the coronal sulcus and frenulum of the penis;
- much less often on the shaft of the penis or on the head;
- in the area of the external opening of the urethra;
- in the urethra itself;
- in the perianal region and in the anal canal.
Compared with women, papilloma in men rarely causes the development of cancer. Diagnosing HPV in the male body is also difficult.
Human papilloma in children
Papillomas in women and men, as well as in children, affect all organs with integumentary or transitional epithelium. It can be the skin, the mucous membrane of the mouth, the pharynx, the respiratory tract. Transmission of the human papillomavirus in childhood occurs:
- during the period of intrauterine development of the fetus;
- when the child passes through the mother's birth canal;
- form of family contact from parents to baby;
- within the team (kindergarten, school, sports and development sections).
But even if a child is infected, the papillomavirus from the body can be shed after a certain period of time. If this did not happen immediately, after the onset of puberty, in many cases, the papillomas on the body and mucous membranes disappear.
Papillomas on the body
The most common in children are the clinical manifestations of human papilloma in the form of common or vulgar warts. They are usually found on the inside and back of the palms or in the knee area. But often the appearance of papillomas with a protruding keratinized surface anywhere on the body. They do not cause discomfort and are painless. With injuries, such formations can begin to hurt and bleed.
Papillomas in children on the laryngeal mucosa.
The most common diagnosis in children, if the human papillomavirus is present in their body, is laryngeal papillomatosis. If the infection occurs during childbirth and the infection is passed from mother to child, its external manifestations are usually seen before the baby is five years old. The cause of laryngeal papilloma is the penetration of HPV types 6 and 11 into the child's body.
Forms of infection, types of PVI and their manifestations.
The papilloma virus is very contagious. The forms of transmission are diverse, which significantly increases the number of people at risk. Modern medicine divides more than a hundred varieties of papilloma pathogens into various types, characterized by their own transmission routes, external manifestations, and level of damage to health.
How is human papilloma transmitted?
Papillomavirus infection can occur through sexual intercourse, domestic use, or during childbirth, in which pathogens are transmitted from mother to child. It is also possible for a person to become self-infected with one of the papilloma viruses. Autoinoculation can occur with mechanical damage to the skin or mucous membranes, for example, during hair removal.
Papillomas: causes of infection through sexual intercourse.
For papillomavirus infection, the reasons may be different. But one of the most common is sexual transmission. In addition, you can become infected not only with vaginal intercourse, but also anal and even oral sex. There are about 40 types of papillomavirus, the reasons for transmission of which are frequent partner changes and early initiation of sexual activity.
Domestic transmission of the virus
The insidious thing about HPV is that there is a high probability that it will be transmitted at home. Several factors can increase the risk of getting the papillomavirus, the reasons for this are different, for example:
- the presence of cuts and scratches on the skin, as well as excessive dryness of the integument with the appearance of cracks;
- diseases that weaken the immune system (HIV infection, flu, herpes);
- Long-term use of strong-acting medications that suppress the function of the immune system.
Infection of babies during childbirth.
Like many genital infections, the papillomavirus can be passed from mother to child during childbirth. Also, the baby can become infected during the prenatal period. If a pregnant woman is a carrier of HPV type 6, 11, 16 or 18, the pathogens most often affect the oral mucosa of the baby. These types of papilloma infections often lead to the development of juvenile papillomatosis of the larynx.
Many women mistakenly believe that a C-section will help prevent the baby from becoming infected. But even in this case, the probability of transmission of the papilloma virus still remains, and pathogenic microorganisms can be transmitted through the placenta.
How does the human papillomavirus manifest itself?
HPV is a group of viruses that cause the development of benign tumors in vivo and under certain factors that lead to their malignancy. By location, papillomas can be cutaneous or anogenital. Such neoplasms can manifest themselves:
- Common warts, characterized by a dense, rough surface with additional growths. The size of such neoplasms is 1 mm. As a rule, their appearance is observed on the palms and fingers, in the knee area (mainly in children), but such papillomas can also be present on the body. The spread of common warts is facilitated by a rapid decrease in immunity.
- Plantar warts that cause special aches and pains. The causative agents of such neoplasms are several types of HPV: 1, 2 and 4. In appearance, plantar formations can be confused with ordinary calluses. Its size is small at first. But then the papilloma grows and additional growths may appear around it.
- Flat warts that appear on the body in the presence of HPV types 3 and 10. Such neoplasms practically merge with the skin, they can have a round or polygonal shape. Often their appearance is accompanied by itching, redness and pain.
- Filamentous formations characteristic of virus carriers who have reached fifty years of age or more. These papillomas can appear on the eyelid, on the body, in the armpit, etc. Its length sometimes reaches 6 mm.
- Genital warts that develop against the background of HPV 6 and 11. In women, such neoplasms can be localized in the anus and rectal mucosa, on the walls of the vagina, in the uterus and vulva, in the area of thegroin.
Types of papillomas
The main danger of the papilloma virus in men and women is that in modern medicine it is considered a carcinogen. About a third of the more than one hundred existing varieties affect the male and female genitalia and cause the development of genital warts.
Cancer risk classification
An unenveloped DNA virus can not only cause uncontrolled division of skin cells and mucous membranes, but can also contribute to the malignancy of neoplasms. However, not all papillomas lead to the development of cancer. Several factors can increase the probability of developing oncogenic diseases:
- earlier onset of sexual activity, frequent partner change, and preference for anal sex;
- the presence of sexually transmitted infections that affect the genitalia, both in women and men;
- smoking and alcohol abuse, which negatively affects the state of the immune system and stimulates the appearance of papillomas in an intimate place and other parts of the body;
- the use of an intrauterine device as a contraceptive, as well as the long-term use of oral contraceptives;
- endometriosis and other diseases of the organs of the female reproductive system.
Determining the type of papillomavirus will help to make a complete diagnosis, the need for which is determined by the doctor.
Non-oncogenic virus types
Among the wide variety of HPV, there is a group of pathogenic microorganisms that do not pose a particular danger to health. Non-oncogenic HPV types include genotype 1, 2, 3, and 5 papilloma viruses. Their presence in the body causes various types of warts to appear on the skin.
- Common, flat warts appear on the hands and soles of the feet when infected with HPV genotype 1.
- Genotype 2 virus leads to flat, vulgar formations on the hands.
- HPV 3 causes uncontrolled cell division in the skin and the formation of flat, juvenile warts.
Low oncogenic risk virus
Low oncogenic risk human papilloma develops when HPV 6, 11, 42, 43, and 44 enter the body. The most common viruses are genotypes 6 and 11. They account for approximately 90% of all infections. These types of pathogenic microorganisms cause the formation of a special type of genital papillomas: genital warts. Their location on the mucosa of the cervix or penis in men has a certain risk of malignancy of the formations.
Papillomavirus with high oncogenic risk
HPV genotypes 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68 have a high oncogenic risk. More than 70% of infections are virus types 16 and 18. Papilloma type 18 is often found in the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Pathogenic microorganisms of this type cause the development of cancer of the cervix, anus, vagina, vulva, or male penis.
Classification of viruses by location of manifestations.
The external manifestation of papillomas in women and men can be observed on the skin of open areas of the body, on the soles of the feet, as well as on the skin and mucous membranes of the intimate area. Lesions may be local, and multiple foci of neoplasms are more commonly seen in severely immunodeficient patients. After the virus enters the body, three stages of its development can be observed:
- in the latent stage, no clinical manifestations of infection are observed;
- with a subclinical form, the morphological symptoms and signs are minimal;
- the clinical stage implies the appearance of papillomas, dysplasias and malignant neoplasms.
The characteristics of the external manifestations depend on the type of virus that has infected the patient's body.
Papillomas on the neck
Papillomas on the neck of virus carriers can manifest themselves throughout their lives. Such formations are benign and only bring a person psychological discomfort. Also, small growths on a thin leg can catch on clothing, injure themselves, cause pain, and bleed. If such problems arise, it is advisable to remove papillomas on the neck.
Papilloma in an intimate place
Papilloma in an intimate place is called genital warts. It can be located in women on the vaginal mucosa or cervix, in men - on the penis. Also, genital warts can develop in the tissues of the anus. All types of papillomavirus that infect the genitalia can be divided into:
- viruses with a high level of oncogenicity (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35), which significantly increase the risk of malignancy of neoplasms, but do not cause genital warts;
- papillomavirus with a low level of oncogenicity (HPV 6, 11), which causes the formation of genital warts.
Papillomas on the eyelid.
Eyelid papillomas most often form in older people who are carriers of HPV infection. They are usually located on the edge of the lower eyelid. Neoplasms can appear in the form of cauliflower. The danger of such formations lies in their constant exposure to direct ultraviolet rays and the habit of rubbing your eyes with dirty hands. In the latter case, the risk of infection by papillomas on the eyelid increases significantly. The color of the neoplasm can be flesh or dark.
Papillomas: treatment and diagnosis
Once in the body, the papilloma virus can behave in different ways. The body's response depends on the type of virus itself, the state of immunity, the presence of concomitant diseases and other factors that are determined individually for each patient. So, there are three main types of papillomavirus behavior in the human body:
- Pathogenic microorganisms enter the bloodstream and behave passively. In this case, a person is a carrier of the virus and can infect people who are in close contact with it.
- The virus enters the body, but does not integrate into the chromosomes of the cells, but at the same time stimulates the uncontrolled division of skin cells and mucous membranes and the formation of papillomas and warts.
- HPV penetrates cells, modifying their structure and becoming the cause of the formation of malignant tumors.
In each case, specific diagnostic and treatment methods are required to identify the virus.
Diagnosis of human papillomavirus
The main type of diagnosis is an external examination of the patient. It is relevant if the infection is manifested by the formation of papillomas (genital warts) on the external genital organs. To determine in the laboratory the presence of HPV and its type helps:
- PCR method. This test is very sensitive in detecting an infection that is in a latent or subclinical stage of development.
- Digene test. Hybridization analysis detecting 13 varieties of the virus with high oncogenic potential and 5 with low oncogenic potential. As a general rule, for a more accurate diagnosis of the papilloma virus, the digene test is combined with cytological studies.
In men, the diagnosis of the papilloma virus is particularly difficult. Screening of male patients is not relevant. In this case, the diagnosis is possible only in the presence of external clinical manifestations of the disease.
Papillomas: how to get rid of external manifestations.
If a person has papillomas on the body, the doctor will tell him how to get rid of them. Trying to cope with external manifestations on your own is not worth it, because it is fraught with dangerous health consequences, in particular an infection. Papilloma removal is necessary for several reasons, namely:
- some types of papillomas can grow and become malignant over time;
- the presence of neoplasms brings psychological discomfort to the patient;
- papillomas on the body and in the intimate area can be injured and bleed.
But, despite this, only a doctor can determine the need to remove papillomas. To do this, you need to contact a dermatologist or dermatovenerologist.
Laser papilloma removal.
The laser method for papilloma removal is very effective. Its use allows you to quickly get rid of benign neoplasms. Laser excision of formations with a diameter of approximately 5 mm takes only a couple of minutes. However, in some cases it may be necessary to remove the papilloma in several stages. The procedure is done under local anesthesia. Tissue removed by laser excision is not suitable for histology.
How to remove papillomas by the radio wave method.
Radio wave removal is an absolutely painless and quick way to get rid of papilloma. During the procedure, the growth is removed at its base area. After removal, a small dark scab remains in place. The excised material is suitable for histological analysis. When deciding how to remove papillomas without risk of scarring, the radio wave method is the best option for patients.
Removal of papillomas with liquid nitrogen.
Speaking about the external manifestations of papillomas and the methods of how to get rid of them, one cannot fail to mention the removal with liquid nitrogen, also called cryodestruction. This method of removing papillomas on the body is quite effective, but the probability of recurrence of external manifestations remains. When performing the procedure, low-temperature nitrogen affects the papilloma cells and freezes them. This method is characterized by minimal trauma and the absence of painful sensations.
Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation - removal of papillomas in the body by a directed effect on the tissue of the neoplasm with a current discharge. This method is very effective (80-95%). Its main advantage is that after the removal of the papilloma formation, not a trace remains. In a week, only a small scab remains on the skin, which disappears after the expiration of the period. You cannot start it yourself.
Drug treatment
Laser papilloma removal or any other method recommended by a doctor are only a solution to external problems that cause aesthetic, psychological or physical discomfort. The methods of eliminating neoplasms have nothing to do with the fight against the papillomavirus, the treatment of which requires an integrated approach.
Today, there is no specific drug for the effective removal of the papillomavirus from the body and the treatment of its external manifestations. The comprehensive approach to treatment practiced by medicine today is:
- removal of papillomas with laser, liquid nitrogen and other methods of removal of benign neoplasms;
- immune therapy aimed at activating the body's natural protective functions;
- General strengthening of the body, taking vitamin complexes, maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
By contacting a doctor and approving all the necessary studies, you can confirm or deny the presence of the papillomavirus in the body, learn how to get rid of neoplasms and reduce the risk of their recurrence.
HPV and immunity
Once in the body, HPV may not show up for a long time. Papillomas on the eyelid, neck, body or in the intimate area, which are external expressions of the activity of the virus, appear with a sharp decrease in immunity. So, the risk of papillomas on the neck, skin and mucous membranes throughout the body increases significantly with:
- transfer of infectious diseases or surgical interventions;
- pregnancy and lactation period;
- constant stress, hypothermia and other factors that adversely affect immunity;
- long-term use of certain medications;
- the presence of genital tract infections.
Any factor that weakens the immune system can contribute to the multiplication of the virus in the blood. Therefore, it is important to know not only how to eliminate papillomas, but also how to strengthen the immune system, preventing their reappearance.
Papillomas: alternative treatment
If a papilloma appears on your body, it is strictly forbidden to remove it yourself at home. For safe and effective treatment, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will prescribe the necessary studies and, based on their results, develop a treatment regimen. According to this scheme, under the supervision of a doctor, the patient can treat the papillomavirus at home.
HPV prevention
Prevention of the papillomavirus by folk and traditional methods aims to reduce the risk of infection. There is also the prevention of the multiplication of the virus in the body and the formation on the skin and mucous membranes of external manifestations such as papilloma in an intimate place, on the neck, eyelids, palms, soles of the feet, etc.
Prevention of human papillomavirus infection
So that one day you do not have to face the question of how to remove papillomas, you need to remember the main measures to prevent infection with the virus. In intimate relationships with new sexual partners, the use of condoms and other contraceptives, unfortunately, does not protect the body from HPV. Only maintaining a monogamous relationship with a trusted partner can help reduce the risk of infection.
For the prevention of papillomavirus infection, traditional methods are not as effective as traditional ones. Modern scientists have developed several vaccines that significantly reduce the risk of contracting strains of HPV with high oncogenic potential (6, 11, 16, and 18).
The most suitable age for vaccination is between 10 and 25 years. Its effect is calculated for approximately 6. 5 years.
Prevention of the manifestations of HPV
For the prevention of papillomavirus activity, alternative treatment is effective with its recipes to strengthen the immune system. But before using them, a consultation with a doctor is required. Also, do not forget about the safest and most effective methods of increasing the body's natural protective functions through sports, healthy eating and tightening.
Papillomavirus prevention at home is available to everyone. Taking care of your health, do not forget to regularly visit your doctor for preventive purposes and to strengthen your own immunity.