Most people do not see the potential danger in the appearance of small epithelial tumors on the body, but papillomas are not just a cosmetic defect. In some cases they can lead to irreversible consequences. The growths arise as a result of infection with HPV - a highly contagious virus with more than 100 genotypes, and some of its types can provoke the development of oncological processes. It is easy to become infected with the papilloma virus. To avoid infection, you should know how the human papillomavirus is transmitted and what factors contribute to the spread of virions.
All routes of HPV infection
There is a tendency that in families where there is a virus carrier, in 50-70% of cases the people around him become infected. The main danger is that the infection does not manifest itself immediately after entering the body, so a person may not know about the infection for a long time and continue to be in close contact with relatives.
Important!
The absence of external manifestations of HPV does not guarantee that an infected person is completely safe for his close circle.
Infection through household contact
A virus carrier can transmit a pathogenic virion (virus particle) to a healthy person through:
- Ordinary tactile contact, for example hugs, handshakes. The likelihood of infection with HPV increases if there are skin lesions (even small wounds, abrasions or scratches are enough for the infection to penetrate a healthy body);
- Use of personal belongings of a sick person. Virus particles can survive for a long time on bedding, towels, underwear, washcloths and other everyday products;
- While kissing. HPV DNA is not only found on the epithelium, but is present in all biological fluids of an infected person and can therefore be transmitted via saliva during a kiss.
In addition, you can become infected with HPV by visiting public places such as a sauna, swimming pool or fitness center, where there are many people, many of whom ignore basic protective rules. Therefore, you must only use personal care and household products.
Sexual transmission of the virus
The most common route of transmission of human papillomavirus infection is sexual contact. If a partner, whether man or woman, is a virus carrier, a single sexual intercourse is enough to become infected with HPV (infection occurs in 95% of cases).
The virus is transmitted through any type of sexual interaction, be it oral, vaginal or anal sex, while the presence of condylomas in the partner's anogenital area increases the risk of infection by up to 100%.
It is interesting that even a condom cannot completely protect against a possible infection:
- Firstly, papillomatous rashes can be localized not only on the genitals, but also in the groin and anus. Therefore, the virus can easily be transmitted from one partner to another upon contact with unprotected areas of the body;
- Secondly, the latex from which the condom is made has fairly large pores. Virus particles pass through them unhindered.
Infection with oncogenic dangerous types of papilloma viruses occurs mainly through sexual contact. When the cancer-causing type of HPV is transmitted to women, they develop neoplasms that can progress to cervical cancer.
Although oncological pathologies of the genital organs are less common in men, the presence of genital papillomas increases the risk of developing a malignant disease. If infection with a cancer-causing virus occurs during oral sex, the likelihood of developing tonsil cancer increases.
Vertical infection (from mother to child)
Children can become infected with the papilloma virus in the womb or immediately after birth (during passage through the natural birth canal). Additionally, if a mother's HPV virus progresses (is in the active phase), the risk of the baby becoming infected increases.
Intrauterine infection is extremely rare, since the placenta can protect the embryo from many pathogenic factors, including viral infections. Slightly more often, cases of HPV transmission to a baby during its passage through the birth canal of an infected mother are recorded.
At the time of birth, the mucous membranes of the child's larynx and trachea are affected, subsequently leading to recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). This is a dangerous pathology that poses a threat to the baby's life. Over the course of 1-2 years, children with RRP develop benign neoplasms of the trachea and larynx that obstruct the airways and cause suffocation.
In such a situation, only surgical removal of papillomatous growths helps, although the tumors usually recur even after destruction. Parents whose children suffer from RRP need to carefully monitor the state of their immune system, as reduced immunity increases the risk of relapse.
Some women preparing to become mothers fear that the papilloma virus may be inherited by the child, but this is not the case. The routes of infection are described above, the hereditary factor is completely excluded - HPV is a virus that is not transmitted genetically.
Autoinoculation method of infection
Self-infection (autoinoculation) is a fairly common type of infection. An infected person should understand that any tumor trauma can trigger the formation of additional growths.
Papillomas located on the face, neck, armpits or groin are often cut off, scratched or torn with a razor during hygiene procedures. When the integrity of the growth is disrupted, blood leaks from it and flows to healthy neighboring areas of the body. Since virus particles are present in all biological fluids of the patient, the penetration of blood into the clean epithelium leads to the spread of infection and the formation of multiple papillomatous rashes.
In addition, when scratching the growths with nails, particles of the pathogenic epithelium remain under the plates, which also often contributes to self-infection. For example, if a person scratched a papilloma with his nails and suddenly decides to scratch his ear or nose, with the slightest damage to the epithelium, the virus will certainly "fix" in it and then manifest itself as characteristic growths.
After introduction into the body, activation of HPV is not observed immediately; the virus requires certain conditions for it to function fully.
When and what triggers HPV activation?
How quickly and actively the papilloma virus begins to behave after infection depends on the immune status of the infected person. HPV belongs to the group of immune-dependent viruses and is therefore only activated when the immune system weakens.
Even after an infection, the body of a healthy person is able to produce enough antibodies to completely resist viral attacks. In such people, the disease is latent (at rest), so there are no epithelial tumors on the body.
When the immune system is weakened, it produces significantly fewer antibodies that cannot independently suppress the virus, and then HPV becomes active and a papillomatous rash forms. The following unfavorable factors can provoke the transition of the papilloma virus to the active phase:
- any recently suffered pathologies of an infectious nature;
- long-term use of oral contraceptives;
- uncontrolled intake of cytostatic drugs (suppression of the immune system);
- dysfunction in the endocrine system;
- pathological condition of the gastrointestinal tract, especially intestinal dysbiosis;
- psychoemotional disorders associated with frequent stress, nervousness and fatigue;
- helminthic infestation;
- frequent inflammatory skin diseases;
- Presence of bad habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, drugs).
Important!
Any factors that reduce the effectiveness of the human immune system can cause HPV activation.
The formation of the first growths is a reason to see a doctor. Self-medication is not necessary, since inadequate treatment of papillomas in some cases leads to the development of cancerous tumors.
Treatment of papilloma virus
Since drugs that can cure the papilloma virus have not yet been invented, after the age of 30 it is impossible for a person to completely eliminate it from the body. Cases of HPV elimination are recorded only in young people under 25 years old.
Treatment of papillomatosis is carried out in three directions:
- Suppression of viral activity (return to a latent state) by taking antiviral drugs;
- Increasing the patient's immune status through the use of interferon drugs;
- Destruction of pathological neoplasms using minimally invasive hardware techniques;
- Cytostatic drugs are prescribed if there is a high probability of malignancy of papillomas (they disrupt the division process of atypical cells).
Antiviral medications prescribed by a doctor can be used orally, topically, injected, or rectally:
- tablets (for oral use);
- gels, ointments (external use);
- injections (syringes);
- Suppositories (rectal suppositories).
Immunomodulatory drugs can also be prescribed in various forms, most often these are tablets and gels for the external treatment of tumors.
Cytostatic drugs are prescribed if, after diagnosis, it is established that papillomatous rashes are caused by a highly oncogenic type of HPV.
Destructive techniques most often used to remove pathological tumors are:
- Electrocoagulation– Cauterization of growths with electric current. The procedure is painful and leaves noticeable scars;
- Cryotherapy– The papilloma freezes under the influence of liquid nitrogen and leaves no trace. However, the procedure is recommended for the removal of small superficial tumors.
- Laser destruction– suitable for removing superficial and deep papillomas, good cosmetic effect allows use on open areas of the body;
- Radio wave technology– There is a non-contact removal of growths, with a short recovery period; no traces or scars remain after the procedure.
After completing treatment, do not forget about preventive examinations. It is necessary to regularly (preferably every year) take an HPV test, and also carefully monitor the state of the immune system.