Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common disease from which neither children nor adults are protected.It is quite easy to get infected with this infection, because its cells are around us and remain viable without a carrier for a long time.
Furthermore, it can settle in the human body without anyone noticing and will not manifest itself until a certain time.All this time, the infected object carries the disease, so HPV is transmitted both to people close to it and to members of its family.
Papillomavirus - a provocateur of the development of oncology
Almost one in three people develop small growths on their body, which initially seem harmless and harmless.When these tumors are detected, the patient's first reaction is to tear them out or remove them using traditional methods.
In fact, such actions often cause irreparable harm to health, since improper removal of papilloma can lead to active proliferation of epithelial tissue.This is what contributes to the rapid spread of HPV in the body and, in some cases, even causes mutation of skin cells with subsequent degeneration into a cancerous tumor.
To date, scientists have divided all types of papillomaviruses into three categories:
- sure;
- little tumorigenic;
- highly oncogenic.
These groups include certain types of diseases, which have their own level of probability of growth transformation into a cancerous tumor.A virus of low and high oncogenicity, when it enters the body, penetrates the genome of epithelial cells, which changes their structure and causes the appearance of a malignant tumor.In this case, the patient requires immediate professional treatment, since if this problem is ignored, everything can end in death.It is not worth fighting the disease alone, because it will still not be possible to cure it without the help of a specialist.
Important!In medical practice, there are precedents when a patient is diagnosed with a safe form of the papillomavirus, but under the influence of external factors, most often due to mechanical damage to growth, papillomas still degenerate into oncology.
How is human papillomavirus transmitted?
All types of diseases, oncogenic and harmless, spread in the same way.HPV can be transmitted in three ways:
- sexual relations with an infected person;
- transmission of infection from mother to child during pregnancy (vertical method);
- home transmission.
The presence of lesions on the skin increases the probability of contracting the disease.Through small abrasions or scratches, viral cells quickly penetrate deep into the skin and begin to spread throughout the body.Additionally, the following factors can increase the chances of infection:
- weakening of the protective functions of the body (seasonal or postoperative);
- the presence of intestinal dysbiosis or disturbances in the normal microflora in the vagina;
- avitaminosis;
- alcohol addiction;
- sexually transmitted diseases, in particular gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis
- diabetes of any type;
- exacerbation of any chronic disease;
- pregnancy at any stage;
- frequent exposure to stressful situations.
In addition, the most susceptible to papillomavirus infection are experienced smokers, as well as women taking combined type contraceptive pills.
Sexual transmission of HPV
If you have a weakened immune system, having sex with a sick person is a 100% way to get human papillomavirus infection.Due to the high risk of transmission of the causative agent of the disease, doctors insist on abandoning promiscuity and recommend entering into intimate relationships only with a trusted sexual partner.
Studies on the nature of the papillomavirus have established that in almost 75% of cases the source of infection is man.However, this does not mean that the majority of infected representatives of the fair sex are not HPV transmitters.The presence of external symptoms of the disease (condylomas, which are located on the mucous membranes of internal organs) can increase the chances of transmission of the human papillomavirus from a woman to a man.Furthermore, even a strong immune system is not always able to protect against this type of human papillomavirus infection.
There is an opinion that the disease can be contracted only through normal sexual intercourse (penetration of the penis into the vagina).But in reality this is not the case.Doctors say the virus cells spread regardless of the method of sexual contact with the carrier.Could be:
- oral sex;
- touching the genitals with your hands;
- anal sex;
- Sexual relations without penetration.
Additionally, the virus is contained in saliva, so you can become infected with HPV even from a simple kiss.
Will a condom protect against diseases?
Manufacturers of barrier contraceptives say that a condom is 99% capable of preventing infection with any sexually transmitted disease.This raises a completely logical question: does it work against the papillomavirus?
HPV is a unique infection against which there is no absolute protection.Therefore, even a condom will not offer a complete guarantee that the infection will not be transmitted from the carrier to a healthy person during intercourse.This is explained by the fact that the infected object has viral cells all over the skin and if you use a condom, the papillomavirus will enter the body not through contact with the genitals, but through contact with other parts of the body.
Of course, this does not mean that the condom is a useless method of contraception.Although it does not protect against HPV, it does prevent the transmission of other more serious diseases and also protects against unwanted pregnancies.
Important!If you have a strong immune system, the likelihood of becoming infected with HPV during sexual intercourse is almost zero, but doctors recommend not to exclude this possibility and take additional precautions, for example, regularly taking immunomodulatory drugs.
Vertical method of infection.
The mode of vertical transmission of the virus is the infection of a child during intrauterine development or during its passage through the birth canal.
The infection occurs until approximately the sixth week of pregnancy, at a time when the baby's bronchioles and alveoli have not yet formed.At this point, the fetus begins to develop respiratory papillomatosis.If during the birth of a baby he is diagnosed with difficulty breathing due to growths in the respiratory tract, doctors perform a surgical operation.Drug therapy in this case is useless.
If the expectant mother becomes infected with papillomavirus after 6 weeks of pregnancy, the virus can be transmitted during childbirth.The baby is deprived of placental protection and passes through the birth canal, where infection occurs.
Treatment of HPV in pregnant women.
If the human papillomavirus is detected without external signs, doctors prescribe the woman to take immunostimulating drugs.If the expectant mother has condylomas on the walls of the vagina or cervix, they must be removed.You can do this using:
- laser therapy;
- electrocoagulation;
- destruction of radio waves.
In a particularly serious case, the patient is prescribed surgery.This method is used only when the tumor exceeds 5 cm or there is suspicion of cancer.
With a pre-established diagnosis of papillomavirus, a pregnant woman undergoes a cesarean section.This is the only way to protect a child from infection.
Most often, the papillomavirus manifests itself after pregnancy.The reason for this was a temporary decrease in the protective functions of the body.If there are no growths on the walls of the vagina or cervix, no treatment is prescribed.Usually, after the baby is born, the external signs of HPV disappear on their own.
Domestic transmission of the virus.
By diagnosing the papillomavirus in a person, we can say with 90% confidence that it has already been transmitted to all other members of his family.You can get infected with HPV at home:
- when wearing shoes or clothes of a sick person;
- by sharing towels, cloths and other personal hygiene items;
- through saliva when using dishes or a toothbrush;
- after using a razor (the greatest risk of infection is when you cut the skin).
Other ways to spread the infection
In addition to all listed routes of transmission of the papillomavirus, it is quite possible to detect the causative agent of the disease:
- in a bathhouse, sauna or swimming pool;
- in public transport (the main places where viral cells accumulate are handrails, seats, doors);
- when shaking the hand of a sick person;
- when using elevators, escalators;
- in a nail salon (in case of insufficient sterilization of instruments).
Not so long ago, information was published that almost 20% of cases of papillomavirus infection occur due to donor blood transfusion.Additionally, hospital and clinic staff are at greater risk of infection, as they may inhale diseased cells upon contact with a patient.In this case, a medical mask is a weak protection method.
Vaccination: guaranteed safety against HPV?
Many people have heard about the benefits of vaccination against human papillomavirus, but few know that even this method does not guarantee complete safety against infection.
Today there are two types of preventive medications.It is a mistake to assume that they protect against all existing types of papillomaviruses.Its composition helps protect against only a few types of HPV, which are classified as dangerous types for cancer: 6, 11, 16, 18.