What is human papillomavirus and how to treat it?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) affects epithelial cells and has a particle diameter of 55 nm. A special feature is the proliferation of the skin epithelium, as well as mucous membranes. In the initial stage, the pathogen usually affects the basal cells of the epithelium and penetrates them through microtrauma. Localized papillomas are usually found on the skin of the neck, armpits, groin and genitals (most often), oral mucosa and nasopharynx.

This virus can exist for many years without symptoms. Electron microscopy or molecular hybridization methods are used to detect HPV.

Types of human papillomavirus

In humans there is HPV, which affects the mucous membranes and skin. Among the large number of papillomaviruses, species with low and high oncogenic risk are distinguished. Oncogenic properties have been shown to be associated with the ability to integrate DNA into the genome of human cells.

The virus is activated in 10-20% of cases. Depending on its type, it can give rise to benign or malignant lesions. Some HPVs are not oncogenic. They lead to the appearance of warts and genital warts. The most common are HPV 6 and 11.

HPV oncogenes are those that have a high risk of developing cancerous lesions, especially in the cervix or anus. Regarding the skin, HPVs 16 and 18 are more common, as well as 5 and 8, which can cause skin cancer. The most well-known form of cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer. But men can also become infected with the papillomavirus, which in the worst case causes penile or anal cancer.

Often, women encounter HPV 16: this is a form in which intrasomal parasitism is observed, that is, outside the chromosome of the cell (benign). HPV 18 has a high risk of developing cancer: benign tumors first form, which, after a while, degenerate into cancer. The virions in this case have small sizes (up to 30 nm).

• neoplasms of the cervix;
• invasive or pre-invasive oncology;
• Genital warts of the urinary tract and genitals.

Characteristics of the infection.

The human papillomavirus is very contagious. It is usually transmitted by direct contact, skin to skin or mucosa to mucosa, with an infected person. In the case of a genital infection, this most often occurs during vaginal or oral sex. Having a large number of sexual partners or other STIs (sexually transmitted infections) increases the risk. Indirect transmission through contaminated objects, clothing or bedding is also possible, but is quite rare.

In 7% of cases, transmission of the virus from mother to child can occur during childbirth, when the infection is active. The risk increases to 40% if you become infected with HPV 16 or 18.

By penetrating the epithelium and violating its integrity, papillomavirus infection promotes the growth of the lower layer of epithelial cells in the form of condylomas or warts. This form of the disease is contagious and spreads quickly to other people. As a rule, warts and condylomas do not cause metastases and often disappear spontaneously.

HPV symptoms

The incubation period lasts up to 9 months (on average 3 months). HPV can be present in the body without obvious symptoms. The virus can go undetected for months or years. Even at this stage it is contagious.

Skin warts usually appear in groups and increase in number when scratched. The two most common forms of papillomas are grayish, hard, raised with a broken surface (common wart) or flat and reddish (flat wart). Spiny warts appear on the soles of the feet or heels, grow inwards and are therefore usually painful.

• Genital warts. Pale or reddish nodules that often appear in clusters and occur on the labia, vagina, penis, urethra, anal canal, and rectum. They are very contagious.
• Flat condylomas. They appear in the form of flat nodes and are mainly found in the female genital organs. They increase the risk of developing cancer.
• Giant condylomas (Buschke-Levenshtein tumors). They grow forming huge formations that destroy surrounding tissues. In rare cases, they can degenerate and cause squamous cell carcinoma.

Infection of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract is also possible. The conjunctiva of the eyes may be affected, resulting in growths with pink stems.
It is more difficult to detect an asymptomatic course, which the doctor can see only with the help of auxiliary means such as acetic acid (causes discoloration of warts) or a microscope.

In addition, the virus can also establish itself in cells without changes in tissues. Then they talk about a latent infection, that is, the presence of pathogens, but without symptoms. Once infected, this phase can last from several weeks to several months.

Possible consequences

When infected, viruses penetrate the cells of the integumentary tissue of the skin and mucous membranes, settle in the nuclei of cellular structures and multiply there. These HPV infections usually go unnoticed and heal on their own without consequences, as the immune system successfully fights the pathogen.

However, some types of HPV create skin changes called growths. Possible forms include genital warts or condylomas and papillomas, which can affect, for example, the face, arms or legs.

The tissue changes caused are mostly benign, but can also degenerate and lead to cancer. For example, cancer can occur decades after an HPV infection. Cancer of the external female genitalia (vulvar and vaginal cancer), anal cancer, penile cancer, and mouth and throat cancer (head and neck tumors) are also possible.

Establish diagnosis

A test for HPV infection is performed on women as part of preventive visits to the gynecologist. During a gynecological examination, a smear is taken from the lining of the cervix, called a Pap smear (cytological examination). The resulting material is studied for changes in the tissue to determine precancerous conditions.

Additionally, an HPV test may be performed, in which cellular material from a mucosal swab or tissue sample is analyzed in a laboratory for the presence of certain viruses. However, this only shows that the affected area is infected, but does not indicate whether tissue changes have occurred. Therefore, an HPV test makes sense, especially when combined with a Pap test, and can help detect cancer precursors at an early stage.

If the test is positive, there is no cause for concern as infections do not always cause cancer. Periodic examination is recommended to detect tissue changes at an early stage. In contrast, a negative test result does not indicate whether there was a past infection that the body successfully fought off.

For men, there is no preventive examination where the test is done periodically. If there is an underlying cancer, tumor testing can determine if HPV infection is the underlying cause of the cancer.

Specialized DNA methods, such as real-time PCR, are also used in laboratory diagnosis. Anogenital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11 are easily detected during a gynecological examination.

How to cure human papillomavirus

In most cases, the disease does not require treatment because it disappears on its own and then the viruses are no longer detected. However, if this is not the case, the infection may last longer and persist for months or years.

To date, there are no methods of systemic influence on this virus that can completely destroy it. However, treating existing warts reduces the amount of virus, so in many cases the immune system can fight off the remaining viruses and get rid of them. In some cases, the pathogens survive and can cause disease symptoms again and again.

• Plantar and genital warts can be treated with medications formulated with salicylic acid for topical application.
• Cryotherapy is also a method often used for HPV. In this case, the wart is burned with cold, using liquid nitrogen.
• Lasers or electrocautery are also used methods.

For cancer caused by HPV, treatment is much more difficult. For cervical cancer, it is often advisable to remove the uterus, respectively the upper part of the vagina and the ovaries. This can be complemented with radiotherapy to eliminate the possibility of relapse. Other cancers caused by HPV are most often treated with targeted therapy, such as radiation or chemotherapy.

It must be remembered that the operation is not a radical solution, but only solves a cosmetic problem, since after its elimination the virus can remain in the surrounding tissues and the condylomas can reappear.

Infection prevention

There are two vaccines: a bivalent vaccine against HPV 16 and 18 and a quadrivalent vaccine against HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18. Vaccination is recommended for all girls 14 years of age and older.

Vaccination does not protect against all types of HPV. Therefore, all women between 25 and 65 years old, even if they are vaccinated, are recommended to undergo regular cytology tests.

Timely detection and complete removal of condylomas reduces the risk of disease. The effectiveness of using condoms to protect against the transmission of infections can significantly reduce the risk of developing this disease. The most promising way to prevent and treat the initial stages of the disease caused by this infection is a specific multivalent vaccine.

Why plantar warts appear and treatment methods.

Warts are skin lesions that appear in the form of special round formations protruding from the surface. They arise due to specific viruses.

These formations often cause physical discomfort due to their location. Even after treatment they tend to come back.

Types and reasons

There are many varieties of warts, they are classified according to a series of characteristics:

1. Simple. They occur on exposed parts of the body, arms, legs, face and scalp. They are generally not dangerous, but they are not aesthetically pleasing and can multiply quickly and affect large areas of skin. They are organized as in "families. "
2. Plant. Its location is exclusively in the feet. Causes discomfort when walking.

The main cause is human papillomavirus infection, which affects the mucous membranes and skin.

Human papilloma virus

This is one of the most common viruses on Earth. Infection can occur in several ways:

• contact and home (through touch);
• sexual (genital, anal, oral-genital);
• in mother-to-child birth.

The period of development of the disease varies from several weeks to tens of years, this is explained by the fact that the virus may not manifest itself for a long time, but as soon as the immunity weakens a little, growths immediately appear on skin and/or mucous membranes. The main danger of this disease is that certain types of HPV have a high probability of provoking the formation of a malignant tumor (cancer of the skin or mucous membranes). To ensure that the disease does not lead to the formation of a tumor, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination and not self-medicate.

Symptoms and types of warts on the foot.

A plantar wart appears as a callus-like thickening with a stratum corneum layer of skin. It interferes with walking and causes pain. The passive state is characterized by slow reproduction, without reaching the stratum corneum of the epithelium, so this condition does not manifest itself externally.

The active state is characterized by the fact that the virus develops rapidly and, ascending to the upper layers of the epidermis, manifests itself in numerous symptoms. The plantar wart is also called spiny wart or chicken wart. The virus enters during contact with the skin through cuts and abrasions in the outer layer of the skin:

1. First, a small yellowish-gray papule with an irregular surface appears.
2. Gradually, the small element becomes dense and acquires a dirty color.

From the inside, a plantar wart looks like fused papillae of different sizes with a pinkish tint. Additional capillaries form there, causing bleeding if a wart contracts.

Removal of plantar warts

A plantar wart is worth treating if:

1. There are painful sensations.
2. The wart is bleeding.
3. It had stains.
4. The wart increases rapidly in size.

There are many treatment methods. One of them is cryodestruction. The meaning of the method is that the wart is exposed to liquid nitrogen at a temperature of minus 196 degrees. The area affected by the virus is frozen and the wart is removed.

The usual and aggressive exposure method is used. With the aggressive method, nitrogen is applied for a few more seconds, but this method is more painful. It is important to note that if a wart appears and exists for more than six months, the effectiveness of cryodestruction is greatly reduced and, consequently, the meaning of such an operation also disappears.

After removing a plantar wart using liquid nitrogen, you should follow some recommendations:

• the blister left at the site of the wart cannot be opened;
• to avoid mechanical damage, use a sterile bandage instead of a plaster;
• Treat the affected area with 2% salicylic alcohol twice a day;
• Try to avoid getting water into the affected area.

Another method is laser coagulation. This is one of the most common methods to remove warts. Most laser systems are equipped with a special cooling system. Thus, the procedure is performed with minimal discomfort and does not allow inflammation, since the laser has antiseptic properties. Additionally, this is a contactless method.

There are several ways:

1. Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. The treatment in this case is carried out using infrared light. The method is 70% effective, but the disadvantage is that healthy tissue can also be damaged.
2. Erbium laser. This treatment method uses a shorter wavelength, which reduces the likelihood of scarring after surgery. The efficiency is usually 75%.
3. Pulsed dye laser. With this method of exposure, the primary destruction of the dilated capillaries of the wart and the stimulation of the immune system are achieved, which contributes to effective healing. The effectiveness of the treatment is approximately 95%.

After laser treatment, a scab forms on the affected area, which disappears on its own within seven to ten days. The recommendations for this treatment method are the same as after exposure to nitrogen: avoid mechanical damage and water ingress.

The next way to remove warts is electrocoagulation. In this case, a high-frequency current is applied to the wart. The treatment is performed under local anesthesia. Exposure of a wart to high temperatures causes the evaporation of the cells affected by the papillomavirus. Another advantage of this method is that cauterization of blood vessels prevents bleeding. After surgery, a scab forms on the affected area of skin, which disappears in 7 to 10 days.

A plantar wart can be treated with direct surgery. In this case, the excision is performed under local anesthesia and then sutures are applied. After the operation, the doctor will prescribe certain recommendations. Thus, it is recommended to avoid getting water and soap into the affected area, not to remove the resulting scab and treat the affected area with an antiseptic in the first 7-10 days.

For each type of operation there are certain contraindications. Therefore, it will be impossible to perform the operation if the following occurs:

• the pregnancy;
• diabetes;
• malignant tumors in the body;
• infection and inflammation around the wart;
• exacerbation of herpes;
• High temperature.

If your blood pressure is high, the procedure should also be postponed.

Treatment of warts without surgery.

People often wonder how to remove a plantar wart without surgery. To do this, you can use pharmacy ointments and solutions.

Basically, these ointments have the following effects:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antiseptic;
• immunomodulatory;
• antiviral;
• antifungal.

In addition, it may contain vitamin E, which also has a positive effect on treatment, since vitamins generally strengthen the body and reduce the risk of relapse.

It is important that these products are used for single, shallow plantar warts. Also, if side effects occur, it is necessary to wash off the medicine with plenty of warm water and immediately seek help from a doctor.

So, it is possible to cure warts, there are many ways to do it, but you should not do it without first consulting a doctor, so as not to harm your health. In addition, self-medication is strictly prohibited if contraindications are prescribed by the attending physician.

Treatment of papillomas on the body.

Hardware methods

Modern hardware methods of treating papillomas make it possible to eliminate them and prevent the development of relapses of the disease. The most used methods are:

• Cryodestruction is the destruction of growths by exposing them to low temperatures.
• Electrocoagulation is the cauterization of formations with an electric current, the intensity and frequency of which is selected depending on the size, type and density of the papilloma.
• Laser removal. The type of impact is clear from the name. The procedure lasts no more than 15 minutes and helps to eliminate unpleasant growths forever.

Pharmacotherapy

Among the medicines used are celandine, castor oil, lapis lazuli pencil, Sani Skin and Dermavit preparations.

They demonstrate variable effectiveness and do not prevent disease relapse. The main disadvantage of drug therapy for papillomas is the frequent development of allergic reactions.

Papilloma prevention

To prevent the appearance of growths and avoid infection with human papillomavirus, you should:

• Use barrier contraceptives during sexual intercourse.
• Observe personal hygiene rules and use only individual towels, soap and toothbrush.
• When visiting public toilets, don't forget to wear rubber shoes.

It is also advisable to normalize your daily routine, eat a balanced diet, abandon bad habits and avoid stressful situations. These factors are not the cause of the disease, but they can cause its development if the virus is already present in the body.