Papillomaviruses are a group of viruses, of which there are about 24 subtypes. To date, about 600 species have been discovered. It is just passed from person to person. The problem of diagnosing and treating the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a problem that many people as well as doctors face. The virus can drive tumorigenesis processes, it is found on the skin, in the esophagus, on the mucous membranes of the mouth, in the bronchi, conjunctiva and even in the rectum.
Causes of appearance and way of infection
The human papillomavirus is a very common disease transmitted by:
- during sex;
- to be touched, to be kissed;
- through scrapes or cuts in swimming pools, showers, public restrooms, or gyms;
- when shaving or plucking.
Statistics say that even with one partner, women are infected in 20% of cases.
About 70% of the population is infected and is a carrier of the HPV virus. This virus is particularly actively transmitted from patients with warts on the body (it is the virus that causes them to appear) as uneven or pointed growths on the skin and genitals. In medicine, they are called warts and papillomas.
It is possible to infect a newborn baby from the mother during childbirth. In infants, the disease manifests as nodules on the throat or on the genitals.
Symptoms and development of the virus
The latent period of the disease (incubation) can range from two weeks to several years. At this point, there is no obvious sign of the virus.
The appearance of warts on the skin can occur gradually and in clusters, but it is also possible for many papillomas or papillomas to grow rapidly at once, similar in appearance to sea kale.
If the infection occurs sexually, the human papillomavirus will manifest in women:
- in the labia majora;
- vagina;
- Cervical;
For men:
- around the tip of the penis;
- on the skin of the genitals.
During oral sex, the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat are affected, for lovers of anal - anal, rectal sex.
Men rarely get the disease, although they can be carriers. When examining spouses, the virus was found more often in women.
Attention!If suspicious growths are found, consult a doctor urgently, because with some viruses, tumors reproduce, causing cancer.
Classification and types
To date, about 600 viruses have been discovered. They are mostly harmless and disappear within two years of infection with normal immunity.
However, about 40 species are dangerous to humans, causing cancer, both benign and cancerous.
In the 1980s, doctors demonstrated a link between HPV infection and cervical cancer.
The following viruses are classified according to the site of the skin lesion and by breed:
- plantation;
- "butcher's wart";
- normal;
- flat.
On the genitals:
- genital warts;
- flat, causes changes in the surface of the cervical membrane and causes cancer;
- Papilloma causes cancer of the genitals and anus, in both women and men.
Other types:
- damage to the oral mucosa;
- papillomas of the respiratory tract;
- Tumors in the neck, head, and lungs.
Level:
- Simple papillomas appear on the back of the palms, and in children, they can grow on the knees. They look like rough growth in the form of a cone.
- Plantar - interferes with walking, first looks like shiny growths, then develops into rimmed warts at the base. Growing up, they form a series of similar shapes.
- Flat - the color is slightly different from the skin, but causes itching, redness, discomfort.
- Filiform. In medicine they are called lutes. They appear more often in people over the age of 50. At first, they look like yellowish bumps that grow, forming nodules up to 6 mm.
When warts appear in easily visible areas, the patient can go to a medical facility for diagnosis and treatment. It will be more difficult to determine cervical or vaginal failure, especially if a woman skips the visit to a gynecologist.
Virus diagnosis
If suspicious growths appear on the skin or mucous membranes as papules (warts) or uneven, bumpy warts, you should definitely consult your doctor. Warts do not cause cancer as often as flat papillomas, but they are best removed to reduce the risk of infecting those around them.
Because of the possibility of developing cancer, such tumors are under investigation.
The doctor conducts an analysis of the human papillomavirus - scraping from the mucosal surface (colposcopy with cervical lesions - examining the mucosa under strong magnification) or skin. The sample is examined under a microscope to look for changes in the structure of the tissue (dysplasia), as well as to determine the type of virus.
The cervical smear is divided into 5 layers according to the results of a cytological study:
- constant;
- changes are caused by inflammatory processes;
- there are small changes in the structure of the cells, histology is required;
- cells showing signs of malignant change are found;
- There are many cells showing signs of cancer.
Histological examination gives a more detailed picture of changes in the structure of the tissue.
The clinic uses a special HPV - the test allows you to get more accurate analytical results. Positive test results indicate the presence of malignant processes in the tissue.
HPV has a high risk of causing cancer. The high risk of cancer is caused by human papillomavirus types 16 and 18, which are found in 70% of examinations.
Based on the results of examination, diagnosis and treatment are indicated.
Treatment of HPV
How to treat human papillomavirus? In connection with the decrease in immunity caused by the disease, first of all, doctors prescribe drugs that increase immunity:
- interferon;
- interfering substances.
But the main method of treatment is mandatory removal of the tumor with modern cosmetic methods:
- coagulation diathermoelectrocoagulation;
- cryodestruction ("cauterization" with liquid nitrogen);
- laser removal;
- radiotherapy or chemotherapy;
- introduction of immunostimulants or immunomodulators into growth.
In each case of the disease, the type of treatment should be determined by a specialist.
If, according to the results of the examination, pathological processes on the skin are not found, then only the papilloma with a small surrounding skin is removed. If malignant cells are detected, surgery can capture a significant area, depending on the depth of the lesion.
Folk methods and recipes
How to cure human papillomavirus? In all ages, traditional medicine has helped fight diseases. Experience in treating HPV is also quite extensive.
Means recommended by traditional medicine. You can lubricate the wart:
- celandine juice;
- juice of sour apples and their pulp;
- dandelion juice;
- ammonia.
Proven recipes:
- Prepare a mixture of chaga, celandine, and cordyceps, freeze and apply ice 3-4 times a day.
- Lubricate with castor oil, then cover with a cloth. Usually 5-6 such procedures are enough.
- Kerosene and walnuts. Grind unripe nuts in a meat grinder, then mix: for 1 part seeds - 2 parts kerosene, the mixture should infuse for three weeks. Apply to warts 2 times a day.
To increase immunity, herbalists recommend drinking
- potato juice,
- transmission of echinacea,
- rosehip tea.
Herbal Collection:
- roots of dandelion, nettle, perilla, horsetail, medlar;
- mugwort, St. John's wort, purple tricolor, fennel (seeds), cactus jelly (root), clover (flower), leaves.
Treatment of HPV at home
You can get rid of papillomas at home using drugs that are sold in the pharmacy:
- Special ingredients harden the wart. It must be applied carefully so that it does not get on healthy skin. After the procedure, about a week, the growths will disappear, leaving no trace.
- Treatment with adhesive strips. Only took 3 hours. But it can cause discomfort or pain when torn off.
- Dilute 2. 5 grams of aspirin powder, the same amount of iodine, 2 grams of boric acid in 100 ml of alcohol and apply to papillomas with this preparation.
Prevention of infection
And yet, do not forget about the viral nature of the appearance of unpleasant growths. Removing papillomas on the surface of the skin will not cure the disease. Therefore, you should see a specialist to prevent the degeneration of tumors into cancer. There is still no cure for HPV, but you can take steps to avoid getting infected.
For prevention, you need:
- Use condoms during casual sex. Condoms do not completely protect against HPV infection, because they do not cover the entire surface of the skin on contact, but they still help partially prevent the spread of infection.
- Avoid visiting bathtubs, swimming pools, toilets, even with the smallest skin wounds.
- Children are vaccinated against cervical cancer, a disease caused by the HPV virus. Girls 11-12 years old are vaccinated. Vaccination results showed a reduction in this disease in women who received the injection.
Have you found a wart or a suspicious growth on your body? Contact a competent specialist and follow all recommendations. HPV can sometimes be very dangerous. Learn about treatments and removals and take action!