Papilloma is a benign formation on the skin or mucous membranes caused by one of the many types of viruses of 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 quite common. Numerous studies show that over 80% of the young population carries it. Infection, entering the body, affects the squamous epithelium of the skin and can multiply for years. Its various types, affecting the mucous membranes, provoke the appearance of benign conjunctival, oral and genital formations.
Papillomas in women
Human papillomavirus infection is equally threatening for 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.
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 long been inactive in the body. During pregnancy, the appearance of papillomas on the skin and mucous membranes can scare future mothers. In this case, the woman needs an urgent consultation with a gynecologist.
HPV is not a contraindication to conception, although there is a high probability of the baby becoming infected 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 papilloma virus 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 detected in men. Once in the body, the papilloma virus of this type remains for some time in the urethral canal, 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 sulcus 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 cancer to develop. 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 baby passes through the mother's birth canal;
- way of family contact from parents to the child;
- within the team (kindergarten, school, sport and developmental sections).
But even if a child is infected, the papilloma virus from the body can clear itself 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 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 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 observed before the child 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 modes of transmission are different, which greatly increases the number of people at risk. More than one hundred varieties of papilloma pathogens are divided by modern medicine into various types, characterized by their own routes of transmission, external manifestations and the level of damage to health.
How human papilloma is transmitted
Papillomavirus infection can occur through sexual intercourse, home use, or during childbirth, in which pathogenic microorganisms are passed from mother to child. It is also possible for a person to become self-infected with one of the papilloma viruses. Self-injection 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 may be different. But one of the most common is sexual transmission. In addition, you can get infected not only with vaginal sexual intercourse, but also with anal and even oral intercourse. There are about 40 types of papilloma virus, the reasons for which are frequent changes in partners and the early onset of sexual activity.
Domestic transmission of the virus
The insidiousness of HPV is that there is a high probability of its transmission in the home. Several factors can increase the risk of contracting the papilloma virus, the reasons 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 drugs 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, the 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 Caesarean 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 the human papillomavirus manifests 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 particular 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. Their size is initially small. But later the papilloma grows, and additional growths may appear around it.
- Flat warts that appear in the body in the presence of HPV types 3 and 10. Such neoplasms practically merge with the skin, can have a round or polygonal shape. Often their appearance is accompanied by itching, redness and pain.
- Filamentous formations characteristic of carriers of the virus who have reached the age of fifty or more. Such papillomas can appear on the eyelid, body, in the armpit, etc. Their length sometimes reaches 6 mm.
- Genital warts 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 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 carcinogen. About a third of the more than one hundred varieties in existence affect the male and female genitals and cause the development of genital warts.
Cancer risk classification
An enveloped DNA virus can not only cause the uncontrolled division of skin and mucosal cells, but also contribute to malignancy of neoplasms. However, not all papillomas lead to the development of cancer. Various factors can increase the likelihood of developing oncogenic diseases:
- early onset of sexual activity, frequent changes of partners and preference for anal sex;
- the presence of sexually transmitted infections affecting the genitals, both women and men;
- smoking and alcohol abuse, which adversely affects the state of the immune system and stimulates the appearance of papillomas in an intimate place and in 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 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 various types of warts to appear on the skin.
- Common, flat warts on the hands and soles of the feet appear when infected with genotype 1 HPV.
- The virus of genotype 2 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, youthful warts.
Low-risk oncogenic virus
Human low-risk oncogenic 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 mucous membrane of the cervix or penis in men has a certain risk of malignancy of the formations.
Oncogenic high-risk papilloma virus
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 type 16 and 18 virus infections. 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.
Classification of viruses by localization of manifestations
The external manifestation of papillomas in women and men can be observed on the skin of the 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 multiple foci of neoplasms are more often seen in people with severe immunodeficiency. After the virus has entered the body, three stages of its development can be noted:
- at the latent stage, no clinical manifestations of infection are 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 the type of virus that infected the patient's body.
Papillomas on the neck
Papillomas on the neck of virus carriers can occur throughout life. Such formations are benign and provide a person with only psychological discomfort. Also, small tumors on a thin leg can get caught in clothing, injure themselves, cause pain, and bleed. If such problems occur, it is advisable to remove the 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 form more often in people of mature age with HPV infection. They are usually found on 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 in the habit of rubbing their eyes with dirty hands. In the latter case, the risk of papilloma infection 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 response of the body depends on the type of virus itself, the state of immunity, the presence of concomitant diseases and other factors determined individually for each patient. So, there are three main types of papilloma virus 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 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 skin and mucous membrane cells and the formation of papillomas and warts.
- HPV penetrates into cells, modifying their structure and becoming the cause of the formation of malignant tumors.
In any case, specific diagnostic and treatment methods are needed to identify the virus.
Human papillomavirus diagnostics
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. This test is highly sensitive to detect an infection that is in a subclinical or latent stage of development.
- Digene test. Hybridization analysis detecting 13 varieties of viruses with high oncogenic potential and 5 with low oncogenic potential. As a 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 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 alone is not worth it, because it is fraught with dangerous consequences for health, 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 very effective. Its use allows you to quickly get rid of benign neoplasms. Laser excision of formations with a diameter of about 5 mm takes only a couple of minutes. However, in some cases it may be necessary to remove the papilloma in stages. The procedure is performed using 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 neoplasm is excised in the area of its base. After removal, a small dark crust remains in its place. The removed material is suitable for histological analyzes. 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 getting rid of them, one cannot but mention 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. During the procedure, low-temperature nitrogen affects the 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 a targeted effect on the tumor tissue with current discharge. This method is highly efficient (80-95%). Its main advantage is that after the removal of the formation from the papilloma, no trace remains. Within a week, only a small crust remains on the skin, which disappears after the period expires. You can't tear it alone.
Pharmacological treatment
Removal of papillomas with a laser or other methods recommended by a doctor are only a solution to external problems that cause aesthetic, psychological or physical discomfort. 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 elimination of the papilloma virus from the body and for the treatment of its external manifestations. The global approach to treatment practiced by medicine today is:
- removal of papillomas with lasers, 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 show itself for a long time. Papillomas on the eyelid, neck, body or intimate area, which are external expressions of the activity of the virus, appear with a sharp decrease in immunity. Thus, the risk of papillomas on the neck, skin and mucous membranes throughout the body increases significantly with:
- transfer of infectious diseases or surgery;
- period of pregnancy and lactation;
- constant stress, hypothermia and other factors that negatively affect immunity;
- long-term use of certain drugs;
- the presence of genital tract infections.
All 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 its 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, it is necessary to 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 cure the papilloma virus at home.
HPV prevention
Prevention of the papilloma virus with traditional and traditional methods serves 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 it is not necessary to face the question of how to remove papillomas, it is necessary to remember the main measures for preventing virus infection. 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 papilloma virus infection, traditional methods are not as 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 effect is calculated for about 6 to 5 years.
Prevention of HPV manifestations
For the prevention of the activity of the papilloma virus, the alternative treatment is effective with its recipes for strengthening the immune system. But before using them, a consultation with a doctor is required. Also, do not forget about these most effective and safe methods of increasing the natural protective functions of the body through sports, healthy nutrition, hardening.
Prevention of papilloma virus at home is available to everyone. Take care of your health, do not forget to visit your doctor regularly for preventive purposes and strengthen your immunity.