The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common disease from which neither children nor adults are protected.It is quite easy to contract this infection because its cells are around us and remain viable for a long time without a carrier.
In addition, it can settle in the human body unnoticed and will only become noticeable at a certain point in time.During this period, the infected object is a carrier of the disease, which is why HPV is transmitted to both people close to him and his family members.
Papilloma virus – a provocateur of the development of oncology
Almost one in three people develop small growths on their body that initially seem harmless and harmless.When such tumors are discovered, the patient's first reaction is to tear them off or remove them using traditional methods.
In fact, such measures often lead to irreparable harm to health, since improper removal of papillomas can lead to active proliferation of epithelial tissue.This contributes to the rapid spread of HPV in the body and in some cases even leads to the mutation of skin cells with subsequent degeneration into a cancerous tumor.
To date, scientists have divided all types of papilloma viruses into three categories:
- secure;
- low tumorigenicity;
- strongly oncogenic.
These groups include certain types of diseases in which the likelihood of the growth turning into a cancerous tumor varies.A virus with low and high oncogenicity, when entering the body, penetrates the genome of epithelial cells, changes their structure and causes the appearance of a malignant tumor.In this case, the patient needs immediate professional treatment because if this problem is ignored, everything can lead to death.It is not worth fighting the disease on your own, since a cure is still not possible without the help of a specialist.
Important!In medical practice, there are precedents when a patient is diagnosed with a safe form of the papilloma virus, but papillomas still degenerate into oncology under the influence of external factors, more often due to mechanical damage to growth.
How is the human papillomavirus transmitted?
All types of diseases, oncogenic and harmless, spread in the same way.HPV can be transmitted in three ways:
- sexual intercourse with an infected person;
- Transmission of infection from mother to child during pregnancy (vertical method);
- Budget Transfer.
The presence of lesions on the skin increases the likelihood of disease.Through small abrasions or scratches, virus cells quickly penetrate deep into the skin and begin to spread throughout the body.In addition, the following factors can increase the risk of infection:
- Weakening of the body's protective functions (seasonal or postoperative);
- the presence of intestinal dysbiosis or disorders of normal microflora in the vagina;
- avitaminosis;
- alcohol addiction;
- sexually transmitted diseases, especially gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis
- diabetes of any kind;
- exacerbation of a chronic illness;
- pregnancy at any stage;
- frequent exposure to stressful situations.
In addition, experienced smokers and women taking combined contraceptive pills are most susceptible to infection with the papilloma virus.
Sexual transmission of HPV
If you have a weakened immune system, having sex with a sick person is a 100 percent chance of becoming infected with the human papillomavirus.Due to the high risk of transmitting the pathogen, doctors insist on abandoning promiscuity and recommend entering into intimate relationships only with a trusted sexual partner.
Research into the nature of the papilloma virus has shown that in almost 75% of cases the source of infection is a man.However, this does not mean that the majority of infected representatives of the fair sex are not HPV carriers.The presence of external symptoms of the disease - condylomas located on the mucous membranes of internal organs - can increase the likelihood of transmission of the human papilloma virus from a woman to a man.In addition, even a strong immune system is not always able to protect against this type of human papillomavirus infection.
There is an opinion that the disease can only be contracted through normal sexual intercourse (penetration of the penis into the vagina).But in reality this is not the case.Doctors say that virus cells spread regardless of the type of sexual contact with the carrier.It could be:
- oral sex;
- touching the genitals with hands;
- anal sex;
- Sexual intercourse without penetration.
In addition, the virus is contained in saliva, so you can become infected with HPV from a simple kiss.
Does a condom protect against disease?
Manufacturers of barrier contraceptives claim that a condom is 99% effective at preventing infection with sexually transmitted diseases.This raises a completely logical question: does it work against papilloma viruses?
HPV is a unique infection against which there is no absolute protection.Therefore, even a condom does not provide a complete guarantee that the infection will not be transmitted from the wearer to a healthy person during sexual intercourse.This is explained by the fact that the infected object has virus cells throughout the skin and when you wear a condom, the papilloma virus enters the body not through contact with the genitals, but through contact with other parts of the body.
Of course, this does not mean that the condom is a useless contraceptive method.Although it does not protect against HPV, it prevents the transmission of other more serious diseases and also protects against unplanned pregnancy.
Important!If you have a strong immune system, the chances of contracting HPV through sexual intercourse are almost nil.However, doctors recommend not to exclude this possibility and to take additional precautions, such as regularly taking immunomodulatory drugs.
Vertical infection method
The vertical route of transmission of the virus is infection of a child during intrauterine development or during its passage through the birth canal.
The infection occurs until about the sixth week of pregnancy, at a time when the baby's bronchioles and alveoli have not yet formed.At this point, the fetus begins to develop respiratory papillomatosis.If difficulty breathing due to growths in the airways is diagnosed during the birth of a baby, doctors perform surgical intervention.Drug therapy is useless in this case.
If the expectant mother becomes infected with the papilloma virus after the 6th week of pregnancy, the virus can be transmitted during childbirth.The baby is deprived of placental protection and passes through the birth canal, where an infection occurs.
Treatment of HPV in pregnant women
If the human papillomavirus is detected without external signs, doctors prescribe the woman to take immunostimulating drugs.If the expectant mother has condylomas on the walls of the vagina or cervix, they must be removed.You can do this with:
- laser therapy;
- electrocoagulation;
- Destruction by radio waves.
In a particularly severe case, the patient is prescribed an operation.This method is only used if the tumor is larger than 5 cm or is suspected of being cancerous.
With a pre-established diagnosis of papillomavirus, a pregnant woman undergoes a cesarean section.This is the only way a child can be protected from infection.
Very often the papilloma virus manifests itself after pregnancy.The reason for this was a temporary decline in the body's protective functions.If there are no growths on the walls of the vagina or cervix, treatment is not prescribed.Usually, the external signs of HPV disappear on their own after the baby is born.
Transmission of the virus in the household
When diagnosing the papillomavirus in a person, we can say with 90% certainty that it has already been transmitted to all other family members.You can become infected with HPV at home:
- when wearing shoes or clothing of a sick person;
- when sharing towels, washcloths and other personal hygiene items;
- through saliva when using dishes or a toothbrush;
- after using a razor (the greatest risk of infection is from cuts in the skin).
Other ways of spreading infection
In addition to all of the listed ways of transmission of the papilloma virus, it is quite possible to find the causative agent of the disease:
- in a bathhouse, sauna or swimming pool;
- in public transport (the main places where virus cells accumulate are handrails, seats, doors);
- when shaking hands with a sick person;
- when using elevators, escalators;
- in the nail salon (if the instruments are not properly sterilized).
Not so long ago, information was published that almost 20% of cases of papillomavirus infection occur through donor blood transfusions.Additionally, hospital and clinic staff are at greatest risk of infection because they can inhale disease cells upon contact with a patient.In this case, a medical mask is a weak method of protection.
Vaccination – guaranteed safety against HPV?
Many people have heard about the benefits of vaccination against human papillomavirus, but few know that even this method does not guarantee complete protection against infection.
Today there are two types of preventative medications.It is a mistake to assume that they protect against all existing types of papilloma viruses.Their composition protects you from only a few types of HPV that are classified as cancer-threatening types – 6, 11, 16, 18.