Human papillomavirus infection

Human papillomavirus infection (HPV infection) is a medical condition triggered by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a DNA virus from the Papillomaviridae family. HPV infections vary significantly, with many being asymptomatic and self-resolving within a two-year period. However, certain persistent infections can lead to the development of warts, precancerous lesions, or even certain types of cancer.

Clinical features

HPV is associated with a range of conditions, from benign warts to serious malignancies. The risk of cancer, largely dependent on the site of infection, can include:

• Cervical cancer
• Vulvar cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Penile cancer
• Anal cancer
• Oral cancer
• Tonsillar cancer
• Throat cancer

HPV is responsible for almost all cervical cancer cases, with strains HPV16 and HPV18 accounting for approximately 70% of all instances. HPV16 also accounts for nearly 90% of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers. Between 60% and 90% of the other cancers listed above are also linked to HPV.

HPV6 and HPV11 are commonly associated with genital warts and laryngeal papillomatosis, a condition characterized by wart-like growths in the larynx or voice box.

Prevention

Preventative measures against HPV include:

• HPV vaccine: Vaccines that offer protection against the most prevalent high-risk HPV strains (such as HPV16 and HPV18) and certain low-risk strains (like HPV6 and HPV11). It is recommended for both males and females, typically before they become sexually active.
• Condom usage: Regular and correct usage of condoms can help reduce HPV transmission risk. However, condoms don't provide complete protection as HPV can infect areas not covered by a condom.
• Limiting sexual partners: Decreasing the number of sexual partners and choosing partners who have had fewer sexual partners can lower the risk of HPV infection.

Treatment

There's no specific antiviral treatment for HPV infection. However, treatments are available for conditions resulting from HPV infection, such as warts or precancerous lesions. These treatments include:

• Topical medications: For warts, creams or solutions containing active ingredients like salicylic acid may be applied to the affected area.
• Cryotherapy: This involves freezing warts using liquid nitrogen for removal.
• Surgery: Surgical procedures may be necessary to remove warts or precancerous lesions.
• Laser therapy: Lasers can be used to remove warts or lesions.
• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP): This procedure uses a wire loop carrying an electrical current to remove abnormal cervical tissue.

Regular screening procedures, like the Pap smear test for cervical cancer, can help detect precancerous changes early and prevent progression to cancer.

See Also

• Cervical cancer
• Papillomavirus vaccine
• Pap test

Human papillomavirus infection Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia