The human papillomavirus is one of the most common and is present in the body of 90% of the world's population. Most of his actors do not even know his presence and do not find any suspicious signs on their own. That is why it has become widespread.
What are nipples?
Papilloma is a benign pathological formation of viral etiology. The appearance of papillomas is caused by the action of the human papillomavirus (HPV). On the skin it usually manifests itself in the form of cosmetic defects - warts and genital warts, in the larynx it can lead to respiratory failure and in the mucous membrane of the internal organs in bleeding and ulcers. There are 27 types of HPV - some of them are safe for health, others can develop into malignant tumors and lead to cancer.
When identifying, special attention should be paid to women, as they have a high risk of developing cervix. Pregnant women during pregnancy are at risk of infecting the baby.
HPV is characterized by a latent (latent) course and while a person has strong immunity, the virus does not manifest in any way (the incubation period lasts from 2 weeks to several years). Under the influence of a number of factors, the virus is activated, multiplies and manifests itself clinically.
The cause of papillomavirus infection
Ways of HPV infection:
- unprotected sex
- contact with infected skin and mucous membranes
- use of the user's personal belongings
- when you visit public places with high humidity and a lot of people (swimming pool, sauna, beaches)
The most common is the sexual route of infection with the virus, domestic routes are rarely recorded, since the virus lives in the environment for a short time.
Virus activation is facilitated by:
- weakened immunity
- infectious diseases
- gastrointestinal tract disorder
- exacerbation of chronic diseases
- pregnancy
- long-term use of a number of drugs (antibiotics, anticoagulants, etc. )
- smoking, alcohol abuse
- intense stress
HPV penetration is facilitated by small wounds, cracks, abrasions and other skin lesions.
Papilloma symptoms
Symptoms depend on the site of formation and the type of HPV. The first "bell" for the presence of the virus is an external manifestation in the form of genital warts (usually occurring in familiar places) and warts (often formed on the face, neck, limbs).
Less often, papillomas are accompanied by symptoms such as:
- peeling, itching, redness (skin)
- discomfort when walking (genitals)
- secretion from the nipple (breast ducts)
- difficulty breathing (larynx)
- painful bowel movements (bowel)
Diagnosis of papillomas
The diagnosis is made by a venereologist, dermatologist, immunologist or gynecologist / urologist.
- Clinical examination - visual examination and conversation with the patient.
- To get a complete picture of the disease, laboratory and organic tests are prescribed:
- general and biochemical blood test
- PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test - determines the type of virus and its quantity in the body.
If the only method of treatment is the removal of papillomas, then a biopsy of the material is performed at the same time to conduct a cytological study and determine the oncological risk.
Treatment methods
There are no drugs or methods that can completely eliminate HPV from the human body. The effects are only on the effects of the virus. General antiviral therapy is performed in cases of highly oncogenic types of the virus located in the area of the anogenetic route. Patients with previously diagnosed papillomas are advised to have systematic screening and use barrier contraception so as not to infect a partner with the virus.
Removal of the papillomas is recommended, as the virus in the epithelial cells causes them to multiply, new papillomas are formed or existing ones are regenerated.
Depending on the location and symptoms of the papilloma, the following removal methods are used:
- Laser surgery - the papilloma is treated with laser surgery. This method does not require hospitalization and the damaged area heals fairly quickly. The laser is used on the face and visible parts of the body.
- Radiosurgery is a non-contact exposure to high-frequency radio waves, under the influence of which a tumor is eliminated. This method is recognized as effective but costly.
- Cold destruction - freezing of a tumor with liquid nitrogen. Scars may remain at the site of exposure.
- Chemical destruction - cauterization with chemical acids. The procedure is quite sensitive and there is a high risk of contact with adjacent tissues and chemical burn.
- Surgical resection - rarely used in cases of suspected malignancy.
- Folk remedies - smoothing out the foci with folk remedies (garlic, felantin, lemon balm, cabbage leaf, castor oil, etc. )
Vaccines have been developed to prevent extremely oncogenic types of the virus (species 16 and 18), which are used in many countries.
To prevent the disease, it is recommended to have protected sex, use personal hygiene items, strengthen the immune system and be examined regularly by an immunologist and gynecologist. If you notice symptoms of HPV, it is recommended that you see a doctor immediately.