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 the mucous membranes. At the initial stage, the pathogen usually affects the basal cells of the epithelium, Penetrates them through microtrauma. Localized papillomas are usually found on the skin of the neck, armpits, groin and genitals (less often), oral mucosa and nasopharynx.
This virus can survive for many years without causing any symptoms. Electron microscopic or molecular hybridization methods are used to detect HPV.
types of human papillomavirus
Humans have HPV, which affects the mucous membranes and skin. Among the large number of papillomaviruses, species with low and high oncogenic risk are distinguished. It has been proven that oncogenic properties are transmitted through DNA in the genome of human cells. are related to the ability to integrate.
The virus is active in 10-20% of cases. Depending on its type, it can cause benign or malignant lesions. Some HPVs are not oncogenic. They cause the appearance of warts and genital warts. HPV 6 and 11 are the mostare common.
HPV oncogenes are those that have a higher risk of developing cancerous lesions, especially on the cervix or anus. As far as the skin, HPV 16 and 18, as well as 5 and 8, can cause skin cancer. , are more common. The most well-known form of cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer. But men can also be infected with papilloma virus, which in the worst case causes cancer of the penis or anus.
Most often women encounter HPV 16 - this is a form in which intrasomal parasitism is observed, that is, outside the cell chromosome (benign). HPV 18 has a high risk of developing cancer - benign tumors are formed first, Which turn into cancer after some time. In this case the size of the viruses is small (up to 30 nm).
- cervical neoplasia;
- Invasive or pre-aggressive oncology;
- Genital warts of the urinary tract and genitals.
Features of infection
Human papillomavirus is highly contagious. It is usually spread through direct contact with an infected person, skin-to-skin or mucous membrane-to-mucous membrane. For genital infections, this often occurs during vaginal or oral intercourse. A large numberHaving a sexual partner or having another STI (sexually transmitted infection) increases the risk. Indirect transmission through objects, contaminated 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 infected with HPV 16 or 18.
Penetrating the epithelium, 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 rapidly spreads to others. As a ruleIn the United States, warts and condylomas do not cause metastasis and often disappear spontaneously.
hpv symptoms
The incubation period lasts 9 months (average 3 months). HPV can be present in the body without obvious symptoms. The virus may remain undetected for months or even years. Even at this stage it is infectious.
Warts on the skin usually occur in groups and increase in number when scratched. The two most common forms of papilloma are either brown, hard, raised with a broken surface (common wart) or flat and red (flat wart)Thorny warts occur on the soles or heels of the feet, grow inward and are therefore often painful.
- Genital warts. Yellow or red bumps that often appear in groups and occur on the labia, vagina, penis, urethra, anal canal, and rectum. They are highly contagious.
- Flat condyloma. They appear as flat lumps and are found mainly on the female genital organs. These increase the risk of cancer.
- Giant condylomas (Buschke-Levenshtein tumors). They grow into giant formations and destroy surrounding tissue. In rare cases, they can degenerate and lead to squamous cell carcinoma.
Infection of the mucous membranes in the upper respiratory tract is also possible. The conjunctiva of the eyes may be affected, resulting in pink stalked growths.
The asymptomatic course is more difficult to detect, which the doctor can only see with the help of acetic acid (causing discoloration of the wart) or auxiliary tools such as a microscope.
Furthermore, the virus can reside in the cells even without any tissue change. Then they talk about a latent infection, i. e. , the presence of the pathogen, but without symptoms. Once infected this stage lasts for several weeks. It can last for several months.
potential consequences
When infected, the viruses penetrate the cells of the integumentary tissue of the skin and mucous membranes, settle in the nuclei of cellular structures and multiply there. Usually, such HPV infections are not noticed and they proceed without any consequences. They heal on their own as the immune system successfully fights the pathogen.
However, some types of HPV cause skin changes called growths. Possible forms include genital warts or condylomas and papillomas, which can affect the face, hands or feet, for example.
The tissue changes are mostly benign, but can worsen and lead to cancer. For example, cancer can occur decades after HPV infection. Cancer of the external female genitalia (cancer of the vagina and vulva), anal cancer, penile cancer, and mouth and throat cancer (head and neck tumors) are also possible.
establish a diagnosis
Women are tested for HPV infection as part of a preventive visit to a gynecologist. During a gynecological examination, a smear is taken from the lining of the cervix, this is called a Papanicolaou test (cytological test). The resulting material is studied for tissue changes to determine precancerous conditions.
Additionally, an HPV test can be performed, in which cellular material from a mucosal swab or tissue sample is tested in a laboratory for the presence of certain viruses. However, this only proves that the affected area is infected, butIt makes no statement about whether changes have occurred in the tissue. Thus, an HPV test makes sense, especially when combined with a Pap test, and in detecting cancer precursors at an early stage. Can help.
If the test is positive, there is no cause for concern as infection does not always lead to cancer. Regular checkups are recommended to detect tissue changes at an early stage. In contrast, a negative test result does not indicate thatWhether there was a previous infection that the body successfully fought off.
For men, there is no preventive exam in which testing would be done routinely. If an underlying cancer is present, testing of the tumor can determine whether HPV infection is the underlying cause of the cancer.
Specific DNA methods are also used in laboratory diagnosis, such as real-time PCR. Anogenital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11 can be easily detected during gynecological examination.
How to treat human papillomavirus
In most cases, the disease does not require treatment because it resolves on its own and the virus is then no longer detected. However, if this is not the case, the infection can last a long time and persist for months or years. Could stay.
To date, there is no way to have a systemic effect on this virus that can completely destroy it. However, treating existing warts reduces the number of viruses, so in many cases the immune system can fight off the remaining virus. And thus can get rid of them. In some cases, the pathogens survive and can cause symptoms of the disease again and again.
- Plantar and genital warts can be treated with medications prepared from salicylic acid for topical application.
- Cryotherapy is also a frequently used method for HPV. In this case, the wart is burned off with cold using liquid nitrogen.
- Laser or electrocautery are equally used methods.
Treatment is much more difficult for cancer caused by HPV. For cervical cancer, it is often recommended to remove the uterus, the vagina and the upper part of the ovaries respectively. It is treated with radiation therapy to eliminate the possibility of recurrence. Other cancers caused by HPV are often treated with targeted therapy, such as radiation or chemotherapy.
It must be remembered that the operation is not a fundamental solution, but only solves a cosmetic problem, since after removal the virus can remain in the surrounding tissues and the condyloma can reappear.
infection prevention
There are two vaccinations: a bivalent vaccine against HPV 16 and 18 and a quadrivalent vaccine against HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18. Vaccination is recommended for all young girls ages 14 and older.
Vaccination does not protect against all types of HPV. Therefore, all women aged 25 to 65 years, even if vaccinated, are advised to have regular smear tests.
Timely detection and complete removal of condyloma reduces the risk of disease. The effectiveness of condom use to protect against transmission of infection can significantly reduce the risk of developing this disease. The most promising way to prevent and treat the early stages of the disease is a specific polyvalent vaccine.
Why do plantar warts appear and treatment methods
Warts are skin lesions that appear as characteristic round structures raised above the surface. They are caused by specific viruses.
These formations often cause physical discomfort due to their location. They recur even after treatment.
types and causes
There are many varieties of warts, they are classified according to several characteristics:
- Simple. They occur on open parts of the body, the arms, legs, face and scalp. They are generally not dangerous, but they are not aesthetically pleasing and grow rapidly, affecting large areas of skin. Can. They are organized like "families".
- Plantar. Their localization is especially on the feet. Discomfort occurs when walking.
The main cause is infection with human papillomavirus, which affects the mucous membranes and skin.
human papillomavirus
It is one of the most common viruses on Earth. Infection can occur in several ways:
- contact and household (through touch);
- sexual (genital, anal, oral-genital);
- From mother to child in labour.
The duration of the development of the disease ranges 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, the development immediately becomes visible. Skin and/or mucous membranes. The main danger of this disease is that some types of HPV have a high probability of forming malignant tumors (cancer of the skin or mucous membranes). It is important to check with a doctor to make sure that the disease will not lead to the formation of tumors. Isn't it self-medication?
Symptoms and types of warts on foot
Plantar warts appear as a callus-like thickening along the stratum corneum layer of the skin. This interferes with walking and causes pain. The dormant stage is characterized by slow reproduction, which does not reach the stratum corneum of the epithelium. Therefore, this condition does not appear externally.
The actiPenetrates through cuts and scratches in the outer layer of the skin upon contact with:
- First, a small yellow-brown pimple with an uneven surface appears.
- Gradually, the small element becomes denser and acquires a dirty color.
Inside, a plantar wart looks like fused papillae of different sizes with a pinkish tint. Additional capillary vessels form there, causing bleeding if you catch the wart.
removal of plantar warts
It is appropriate to treat plantar warts if:
- There are painful feelings.
- The wart is bleeding.
- There were stains on it.
- The size of the wart increases rapidly.
There are many methods of treatment. 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 invasive method of exposure are used. With the invasive method, nitrogen is applied for a few seconds longer, but this method is more painful. It is important to note that if a wart appears andexists for more than six months, the effectiveness of cryodestruction is greatly reduced, and the meaning of such an operation also disappears.
After removing plantar warts 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 salicylic alcohol 2% twice a day;
- Try to prevent water from entering the affected area.
Another method is laser coagulation. This is one of the most common methods for removing warts. Most laser systems are equipped with a special cooling system. Thus, the procedure occurs with minimal discomfort and does not allow inflammation, because the laser has antiseptic properties. In addition, it is a non-contact method.
there are many ways:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. In this case the treatment takes place using infrared light. The method is 70% effective, but the downside is that even healthy tissue can be damaged.
- Erbium laser. This treatment method uses shorter wavelengths, which reduces the chance of scarring after surgery. The efficiency is generally 75%.
- Pulsed dye laser. With this method of exposure, primary destruction of the dilated capillaries in the wart occurs and the immune system is stimulated, which contributes to effective treatment. The effectiveness of treatment is about 95%.
After laser treatment, a scab forms on the affected area, which disappears on its own within seven to ten days. Recommendations for this method of treatment are the same as after exposure to nitrogen - mechanical damage andAvoid water ingress.
The next method of removing warts is electrocoagulation. In this case, a high frequency current is applied to the wart. The treatment is carried out under local anesthesia. The cells affected by the papilloma virus are evaporated by exposure to high temperatures of the wart. Another advantage of this method is that cauterization of the blood vessels stops bleeding. After the surgery, a scab forms on the affected area of the skin, which disappears within 7 to 10 days.
Plantar warts can be treated with straightforward surgery. In this case, excision takes place under local anesthesia, then stitches are placed. After the operation, the doctor will write some recommendations. Thus, water and soap should be applied to the affected area. It is recommended to prevent penetration, not to tear off the resulting scab, and to treat the affected area with an antiseptic in the first 7-10 days.
There are certain contraindications for each type of operation. Thus, it will be impossible to perform the operation if the following occurs:
- pregnancy;
- diabetes;
- Malignant tumors in the body;
- Infection and inflammation around the wart;
- exacerbation of shingles;
- 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 plantar warts without surgery. To do this, you can use pharmaceutical ointments and solutions.
Basically, these ointments have the following effects:
- Anti-inflammatory;
- antiseptic;
- immunomodulatory;
- anti viral;
- Antifungal.
In addition, it may contain vitamin E, which also has a positive effect on healing, as vitamins generally strengthen the body and reduce the risk of relapse.
It is important that these products should be used for single and shallow plantar warts. In addition, if any side effects occur, it is necessary to wash down the medicine with plenty of warm water and immediately seek help from a doctor.
So, treatment of warts is possible, there are several ways to do this, but you should not do this without first consulting a doctor, so as not to harm your health. Also, self-medication if the attending physician determines contraindications. It is strictly prohibited to do so.
Treatment of papillomas on the body
hardware methods
Modern hardware methods for treating papillomas make it possible to get rid of them and prevent the development of recurrence of the disease. The most commonly 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 strength and frequency of which is selected depending on the size, type and density of the papilloma.
- Laser Removal. The type of effect is clear from the name. The procedure takes no more than 15 minutes and helps to get rid of unpleasant growths forever.
drug treatment
Medicines used include celandine, castor oil, lapis pencil, Sani Skin and Dermavit preparations.
They demonstrate varying effectiveness and do not prevent recurrence of the disease. The main disadvantage of drug therapy for papillomas is the frequent development of allergic reactions.
Papilloma prevention
To avoid the appearance of growths and infection with human papillomavirus, you should:
- Use barrier contraception during intercourse.
- Follow personal hygiene rules and use only personal towels, soap and toothbrush.
- Don't neglect to wear rubber shoes when visiting public bathrooms.
You should also normalize your daily routine, eat a balanced diet, give up bad habits and avoid stressful situations. These factors do not cause the disease, but if the virus is already present in the body they can provoke its development. Could.