Human papillomavirus is one of the most common diseases from which no one is immune.According to medical statistics provided by the World Health Organization, around 70% of the world's population is infected with HPV and the majority of infected people are not even aware of their disease.Despite long-term research into the nature of the papillomavirus, scientists have not yet found a way to completely cure it.Today it is only possible to suppress the activity of the causative agent of the disease, but under the influence of some unfavorable factors it will return with renewed vigor.
Routes of HPV infection
Papillomavirus is an unpleasant disease that causes the appearance of venereal warts (condylomas), growths on the skin, as well as papillomas on the mucous membranes of the larynx and oral cavity.In fact, HPV itself does not pose a particular threat to human health, but its external symptoms spoil the appearance, cause pain when damaged and can even cause oncology.Due to the risk of malignant tumor, this disease must be treated immediately, otherwise the consequences will be irreversible.
Human papillomavirus infection spreads very quickly.It is transmitted mainly in the womb during pregnancy (from mother to child) or by contact:
- through handshakes;
- to hug;
- when touching a patient on public transport;
- during sexual intercourse with an infected person.
In second place is the domestic circuit.In this case, you can get the virus:
- through animal skins;
- when using other people's personal hygiene items;
- when wearing clothes or shoes belonging to an infected person;
- when visiting public swimming pools, ponds, showers.
Activation of HPV does not occur immediately.Often, the disease makes itself felt one or two years after entering the body, or does not even appear at all.If no external symptoms are detected, a person infected with the papillomavirus passes into a group of carriers and becomes a spreader of the disease.This infection can only be detected in the absence of external signs after laboratory diagnosis, but few people think about it until the disease enters the active phase.
An interesting fact is that the external signs of the disease in pregnant women are temporary.The reason for this lies in the fact that during pregnancy the pregnant woman's immune system weakens, which previously kept the infection latent.After giving birth, the protective functions of the woman's body are restored and the disease can disappear on its own.
Papillomavirus: level of oncogenicity and types of growths
All existing types of papillomaviruses are divided into several categories depending on the level of oncogenicity:
- safe growths;
- neoplasms with a low chance of transforming into cancer;
- papillomas with an average risk of developing a cancerous tumor;
- especially dangerous neoplasms.
Based on data from medical practice, especially dangerous types of papillomavirus in most cases (70-94%) affect the female body.It causes precancerous conditions in urology and gynecology, such as cervical cancer.
Types of papillomas
According to their appearance and location, all papillomas are divided into several groups:
- warts– plantar on the feet, vulgaris on the toes, juvenile (flat) protuberances on the skin;
- genital warts– genitals, area close to the anus, mucous membranes of the vagina, oral cavity, lips.
Additionally, tumors can develop on the vocal cords.In this case, the disease is called laryngeal papillomatosis.It is often diagnosed in newborns and in women infected with condylomatosis.
Important!
If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner, the papillomavirus can enter an advanced stage and a person will develop many different growths with varying levels of oncogenicity throughout the body.It will be very difficult to fight mass papillomas.
Diagnosis of the disease
If you detect any signs of papillomavirus on your skin, contact an infectious disease specialist or dermatologist immediately.If growths appear on the genitals, the patient needs to consult a gynecologist (for women) or a urologist (for men).The doctor is obliged to conduct a visual examination and make a primary diagnosis.After that, the patient is sent for examination.This is a mandatory procedure, because in addition to HPV, there are many other diseases whose external symptoms are very similar to the signs of papillomavirus infection.
PCR analysis
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most common laboratory diagnostic method.Blood, skin scrapings or mucous membranes from genital organs are used as biomaterial.
After collecting a sample of the patient's tissue, laboratory staff use special enzymes that copy human papilloma virus RNA and DNA particles from the biomaterial.They are then “run” through an infectious disease database, identifying the type of infection and its concentration.
There are many reasons why PCR analysis is the main method for diagnosing papillomavirus.Among them, it is worth highlighting the main advantages of this method:
- increased sensitivity - the disease can be detected immediately after entering the body;
- versatility – absolutely any biomaterial is suitable for analysis;
- large coverage area - allows you to identify all types of HPV present in the body at the same time;
- speed of analysis - results are known within a few hours;
- high accuracy - the technique never gives incorrect results (exceptions include violations of the technology for carrying out diagnostic measurements, which is extremely rare).
Furthermore, it should be noted that the cost of the analysis is acceptable.The price of PCR is much lower compared to other HPV diagnostic methods.
Digene HPV Test
Not so long ago, Digene technology appeared in medicine, with the help of which it is possible to detect all types of human papillomavirus infection, from low levels of oncogenicity to particularly dangerous types of the disease.Although this technique is new, it is quickly gaining popularity.For example, in European countries it has already been recognized as more effective than PCR analysis.
The main advantage of the Digene HPV test is that, unlike PCR, it is able not only to identify the papillomavirus and establish the type of disease, but also to determine the level of its oncogenicity.Thanks to this, the doctor can select treatment more correctly and reduce the likelihood of developing cancer due to HPV to a minimum.
A secondary positive feature of this diagnostic method was the accurate determination of the concentration of viral cells in the body.When deciphering tests, doctors pay attention to this characteristic, because on its basis the course of therapy is selected.
All methods of treating human papillomavirus
HPV is not a death sentence!It is impossible to get rid of it completely, but it is quite possible to start living without its external manifestations.
The treatment regimen for human papillomavirus infection includes three stages:
- Removal of external signs of disease (growths);
- Completing a course of drug therapy;
- Strengthen the immune system to prevent relapses.
The entire HPV cure process must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.Making changes yourself can cause health problems or reduce the effectiveness of medications prescribed by a specialist.
Important!
Doctors allow the possibility of independently using additional methods of combating the virus (traditional medicine, spells, medicinal baths), but before using them you must notify the doctor about this.
Basic methods for removing growths
It is not recommended to remove the growths on your own, as any damage to the papilloma or condyloma can provoke the transformation of the remains of the neoplasm into a cancerous tumor.To safely get rid of the external symptoms of infection, you must use professional techniques:
- freezing with liquid nitrogen;
- destruction of radio waves;
- electrocoagulation;
- laser therapy.
General contraindications for hardware removal of papillomas are:
- the presence of chronic diseases that are in the acute phase at the time of visiting the medical center;
- damage to the skin at the site of growth;
- suspected malignancy of the neoplasm;
- skin infections.
Furthermore, the customer may be denied the operation if they are under the influence of drugs or drunk.
Excision of the growth with a scalpel
In some particularly advanced cases, the patient must seek help from a surgeon.This radical method of combating growths is prescribed only when the papilloma has grown more than 4-5 cm or a person has contraindications to one or another cosmetic procedure.
Surgery is the only effective way to get rid of large warts and large group tumors.Its disadvantages were:
- the appearance of a scar after surgery;
- need for anesthesia (local or general);
- long period of rehabilitation.
Chemotherapy
If there is a single small papilloma, the patient may undergo chemotherapy.It is based on the use of medications for external use, which penetrate the deep layers of the epidermis and destroy the base of growth.As a result, under the influence of aggressive chemical compounds, it dies and falls, leaving a barely noticeable depression.
The disadvantage of this treatment method is that the components of antipapilloma products also burn healthy skin cells.Furthermore, chemotherapy cannot remove condylomas and warts located in the mouth or genitals due to the risk of damage to the mucous membranes.
Course of drug treatment
To date, it is not known how to cure papillomavirus forever.The action of all existing drugs against HPV is aimed at suppressing the activity of the infection and strengthening the immune system, which can independently block the development of the disease.
Complex drug therapy includes several types of medications:
- antiviral;
- immunostimulants;
Antiviral drugs prevent the development of infection, and immunostimulants strengthen the body's protective functions, which subsequently keep the disease latent.
The choice of a particular medicine depends on the individual characteristics of the patient's body.
Injections have become an alternative to oral medications.
Strengthening the immune system
Unlike antiviral and immunostimulating drugs, vitamin complexes can be selected depending on the patient's personal preferences.They are not the basis of therapy and belong to means designed to support the human body in the fight against infections.
Important!
If desired, tableted vitamins can be replaced with healthy foods.To compensate for the lack of nutrients in the body and restore its protective functions, it is enough to switch to plant foods rich in vitamins E, C, D.
Papillomavirus prevention
There are several groups into which all existing preventive measures for papillomavirus are divided:
- prevention of infection, taking into account how the infection spreads (primary prevention);
- early diagnosis of the disease;
- protecting the body from re-infection after undergoing a course of therapy.
In the first case, a person must protect himself in every way possible against infections.To do this, he will need:
- stop having promiscuous sex;
- wash your hands after visiting public places;
- maintain personal hygiene;
- avoid visiting dubious beauty salons (it is precisely because of insufficient disinfection of cosmetic or manicure instruments that the probability of contracting papillomavirus in a cosmetologist's office is quite high);
- eat well;
- wear shoes when visiting swimming pools or baths;
- strengthen your immune system;
- Clean your home regularly.
Despite following these recommendations, there is still a small chance of contracting HPV.Therefore, doctors insist on regularly visiting an infectious disease specialist and sending the biomaterial for analysis.This will help identify the virus in the incubation period and get rid of it quickly.
If, however, infection occurs and the disease begins to manifest itself externally, no preventive measures will be beneficial.Only a specially selected treatment will help here, after which you need to take care to avoid a relapse of the disease.To do this, you need to follow the rules of primary prevention and remain under the supervision of a doctor for another 2-3 weeks.
Will the HPV vaccine protect women?
Although there is no 100% cure for the papillomavirus, women can avoid infection with some types of the disease that are dangerous for cancer.Two medications have been developed for this purpose.
These agents are administered as an injectable solution and help protect the body against various types of HPV (6, 11, 16, 18, 33, 45).
Vaccination by these means takes place in three stages:
- The first dose is on the day of the injection;
- Second dose – after 60 days;
- The third dose is six months later.
After vaccination, the organism acquires the ability to kill viral cells, whose DNA was part of the medicine, as long as the person has not previously been infected by them.Therefore, before injecting the medicine, a woman undergoes mandatory laboratory diagnostics.
In order for immunity to be as pronounced as possible, vaccination must be carried out before the age of 18.Some developed countries have made this procedure mandatory and all high school students undergo it.
If necessary, you can take advantage of paid vaccinations in a private clinic.