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 microtrauma of the mucous membranes and skin, during childbirth (from an infected mother to a child).
Human papillomavirus in adults
Human papilloma infection (PVI) is fairly common. Numerous studies show that more than 80% of the young population are carriers of it. The infection, entering the body, affects the squamous epithelium of the skin and can multiply in it for years. Its various types, affecting the mucous membranes, cause the appearance of conjunctival, oral and genital benign formations.
Papillomas in women
Infection with the human papillomavirus is equally threatening to both men and women. But some types of pathogenic microorganisms pose a great danger to health and life for women. Numerous studies have shown that HPV can cause cervical cancer.
Papilloma virus in pregnant women
A sharp weakening of the immune system and hormonal imbalance can provoke active reproduction and symptomatic manifestations of the papilloma virus, 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 expectant mothers. In this case, the woman needs an urgent consultation with a gynecologist.
HPV is not a contraindication to conception, although during childbirth there is a high probability of infection of the baby.
Papillomas in men
Papilloma in men for the most part does not give clinical manifestations. But at the same time, men are 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 may change, and the presence of the papilloma virus in the blood will begin to actively and in some cases aggressively manifest itself.
The type of sexually transmitted infection that causes genital warts affects both men and women equally. HPV 16 and 18, which can cause cervical cancer in women, are rarely detected in men. Once in the body, the papilloma virus of this type stays in the urethral canal for some time, after which it eliminates itself due to the absence of a favorable environment for its reproduction. Genital genital warts in men can appear:
- most often on the coronal groove and frenulum of the penis;
- much less often on the body 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 to women, papilloma in men rarely causes the development of cancer. Diagnosis of 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, pharynx, 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 birth canal of the mother;
- contact-household way from parents to baby;
- within the team (kindergarten, school, sports and developmental sections).
But even if a child is infected, the papilloma virus from the body can eliminate itself after a certain period of time. If this did not happen immediately, after the onset of puberty, in many cases, papillomas on the body and mucous membranes disappear.
Papillomas on the body
The most common in children are clinical manifestations of human papilloma in the form of common or vulgar warts. They are usually located on the inside and back of the palms or in the knee area. But often the appearance of papillomas with a protruding keratinized surface on any part of 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 infection occurs during childbirth and the infection is transmitted from mother to child, its external manifestations are usually observed before the baby reaches the age of five. The cause of laryngeal papilloma is the penetration of HPV types 6 and 11 into the child's body.
Ways of infection, types of PVI and their manifestations
The papilloma virus is highly contagious. The ways of its transmission are diverse, which significantly expands the number of people at risk. More than a hundred varieties of papilloma pathogens are divided by modern medicine into various types, characterized by their own transmission routes, external manifestations and level of harm to health.
How is human papilloma transmitted
Infection with the papillomavirus can occur through sexual intercourse, through household use, or during childbirth, in which pathogenic microorganisms 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 epilation.
Papillomas: causes of infection through sexual intercourse
For papillomavirus infection, the reasons can be different. But one of the most common is sexual transmission. Moreover, you can become infected not only with vaginal, but also with anal and even oral sexual intercourse. There are about 40 types of papilloma virus, the reasons for the transmission of which are frequent changes of partners and early onset of sexual activity.
Domestic transmission of the virus
The insidiousness of HPV lies in the fact that there is a high probability of its transmission in the household. Several factors can increase the risk of contracting the papilloma virus, 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 drugs of strong action that suppress the function of the immune system.
Infection of babies during childbirth
Like many genital infections, the papilloma virus 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, pathogens most often affect the baby's oral mucosa. These types of papilloma infections often cause the development of juvenile papillomatosis of the larynx.
Many women mistakenly believe that having a cesarean section will help keep the baby from getting 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
HPV is a group of viruses that provoke the development of benign tumors in vivo, and under certain factors leading 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 from 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 particular discomfort and pain. 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. Their size is small at first. But later the papilloma grows, and additional growths may appear around it.
- Flat warts that appear in the presence of HPV types 3 and 10 in the body. Such neoplasms practically merge with the skin, can have a round or polygonal shape. Often their appearance is accompanied by itching, redness and soreness.
- Filamentous formations characteristic of carriers of the virus who have reached fifty years of age or more. Such papillomas may appear on the eyelid, on the body, in the armpit, etc. Their length sometimes reaches 6 mm.
- Genital warts developing against the background of HPV 6 and 11. In women, such neoplasms can be localized in the anus and on the rectal mucosa, on the walls of the vagina, in the uterus and vulva, in the groin area.
Types of papillomas
The main danger of the papilloma virus in men and women is that in modern medicine it is considered a carcinogenic agent. About a third of more than a hundred existing varieties of it affects the male and female genitals and causes the development of genital warts.
Cancer risk classification
A non-enveloped DNA-containing virus can not only provoke uncontrolled division of skin cells and mucous membranes, but also contribute to the malignancy of neoplasms. However, not every papilloma leads to the development of cancer. Various factors can increase the likelihood of developing oncogenic diseases:
- earlier onset of sexual activity, frequent change of partners and preference for anal sex;
- the presence of sexually transmitted infections that affect the genitals, both 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 long-term use of oral contraceptives;
- endometriosis and other diseases of the organs of the female reproductive system.
To determine the type of papillomavirus will help to carry out a complete diagnosis, the need for which is determined by the doctor.
Non-oncogenic types of viruses
Among the huge variety of HPV, there is a group of pathogenic microorganisms that do not pose a particular danger to health. Non-oncogenic HPV types include papilloma viruses of genotypes 1, 2, 3 and 5. Their presence in the body causes the appearance of various types of warts on the skin.
- Common and flat warts on the hands and soles of the feet appear when infected with genotype 1 HPV.
- The genotype 2 virus leads to the appearance of flat and vulgar formations on the hands.
- HPV 3 causes uncontrolled cell division of the skin and the formation of flat and juvenile warts.
Low oncogenic risk viruses
Human papilloma with low oncogenic risk develops when HPV 6, 11, 42, 43 and 44 enter the body. The most common viruses are genotypes 6 and 11. They account for about 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 mucous membrane of the cervix or penis in men has a certain risk of malignancy of the formations.
Papilloma virus 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 infections with viruses of types 16 and 18. Type 18 papilloma is often found in the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Pathogenic microorganisms of these types provoke the development of cancer of the cervix, anus, vagina, vulva or male penis.
Virus classification by localization 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 zone. Lesions can be local, and in people with severe immunodeficiency, multiple foci of neoplasms are most often observed. After the virus enters the body, three stages of its development can be noted:
- at the latent stage, clinical manifestations of infection are not observed;
- with a subclinical form, symptoms and morphological signs are minimal;
- the clinical stage implies the appearance of papillomas, dysplasias and malignant neoplasms.
Features of external manifestations depend on what type of virus has infected the patient's body.
Papillomas on the neck
Papillomas on the neck of carriers of the virus can manifest themselves throughout their lives. Such formations are benign, and only provide a person with psychological discomfort. Also, small neoplasms on a thin leg can catch on clothes, get injured, cause painful sensations 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 localized in women on the vaginal mucosa or cervix, in men - on the penis. Also, genital warts can develop on the tissues of the anus. All types of papilloma viruses that infect the genitals 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;
- papilloma virus with a low level of oncogenicity (HPV 6, 11), which causes the formation of genital warts.
Papillomas on the eyelid
Eyelid papillomas are most often formed in people of mature age who are carriers of HPV infection. They are usually located at the edge of the lower eyelid. Neoplasms can be in the form of cauliflower. The danger of such formations lies in their constant exposure to direct UV rays and the habit of rubbing the eyes with dirty hands. In the latter case, the risk of infection with papillomas in 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 the virus itself, the state of immunity, the presence of concomitant diseases and other factors that are determined for each patient individually. So, there are three main types of behavior of the papilloma virus 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 him.
- The virus enters the body, but does not integrate into the chromosomes of cells, but at the same time stimulates the uncontrolled division of cells of the skin and mucous membranes and the formation of papillomas and genital warts.
- HPV penetrates cells, changing 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.
Diagnostics of the human papillomavirus
The main type of diagnostics 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 help:
- PCR method. Such a test is highly sensitive for detecting an infection that is at a subclinical or latent stage of development.
- Digene test. Hybridization analysis identifying 13 varieties of the virus with a high oncogenic potential and 5 with a low one. As a rule, for a more accurate diagnosis of the papillomavirus, the digene test is combined with cytological studies.
In men, the diagnosis of the papilloma virus is particularly difficult. Screening for 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 you how to get rid of them. Trying to cope with external manifestations on your own is not worth it, because this is fraught with health-hazardous consequences, in particular infection. Removal of papillomas 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 should contact a dermatologist or dermatovenerologist.
Removal of papillomas with a laser
The laser method of papilloma removal is highly effective. Its use allows you to quickly get rid of benign neoplasms. Laser excision of formations with a diameter of about 5 mm takes just a couple of minutes. However, in some cases it may be necessary to remove the papilloma in several stages. The procedure is performed using local anesthesia. Tissue removed by laser excision is not suitable for histology.
How to remove papillomas by radio wave method
Radio wave removal is an absolutely painless and quick way to get rid of papilloma. During the procedure, the neoplasm is excised in the area of its base. After removal, a small dark crust remains in its place. The excised material is suitable for histological analysis. When deciding how to remove papillomas without the 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 methods of how to get rid of them, one cannot fail to mention the removal with liquid nitrogen, otherwise called cryodestruction. This method of removing papillomas on the body is quite effective, but the likelihood of recurrence of external manifestations remains. When performing the procedure, nitrogen at low temperatures affects papilloma cells, freezing them. This method is characterized by minimal trauma and the absence of painful sensations.
Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation - removal of papillomas on the body by means of a targeted effect on the tissue of the neoplasm with a current discharge. This method is highly efficient (80-95%). Its main advantage is that after removal of the formation from the papilloma, not a trace remains. Within a week, only a small crust remains on the skin, which disappears after the expiration of the period. You cannot tear it off yourself.
Drug treatment
Removal of papillomas with a laser or any other methods recommended by a doctor are only a solution to external problems that cause aesthetic, psychological or physical discomfort. The methods of removing neoplasms have nothing to do with the fight against the papilloma virus, the treatment of which requires an integrated approach.
Today, there is no specific drug for the effective removal of the papilloma virus 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 excision of benign neoplasms;
- immunological 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 passing all the necessary studies, you can confirm or deny the presence of the papilloma virus in the body, learn how to get rid of neoplasms and reduce the risk of their reappearance.
HPV and immunity
Once in the body, HPV may not manifest itself 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 negatively affect immunity;
- long-term use of certain medications;
- the presence of genital tract infections.
Any factors that weaken the immune system can contribute to the multiplication of the virus in the blood. Therefore, it is important to know not only how to remove 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 need to see a doctor. The specialist will prescribe the necessary studies and, based on their results, develop a treatment regimen. Under this scheme, under the supervision of a doctor, the patient can treat the papilloma virus at home.
Prevention of HPV
The prevention of the papilloma virus by folk and traditional methods is 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 such external manifestations 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 about the main measures for preventing infection with the virus. In intimate relationships with new sexual partners, the use of a condom 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 infection with the papilloma virus, traditional methods are not so effective as traditional ones. Modern scientists have developed several vaccines that significantly reduce the risk of contracting HPV varieties with high oncogenic potential (6, 11, 16 and 18).
The most appropriate age for vaccination is between 10 and 25 years. Its action is calculated for approximately 6. 5 years.
Prevention of HPV manifestations
For the prevention of the activity of the papilloma virus, 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 such the most effective and safe methods of increasing the natural protective functions of the body through sports, healthy eating, hardening.
Prevention of papilloma virus at home is available to everyone. Taking care of your health, do not forget to regularly visit your doctor for preventive purposes and strengthen your own immunity.