What is human papillomavirus and how to treat it

Human papillomavirus (HPV) affects epithelial cells and has a particle diameter of 55 nm. A special feature is the proliferation of the epithelium of the skin, as well as of the mucous membrane. In the initial stage, the pathogen usually affects the basal cells of the epithelium, penetrating them through microtraumas. Localized papillomas are usually found on the skin of the neck, armpits, groin and genitals (more often), the mucous membrane of the mouth and nasopharynx.

This virus can exist for many years without symptoms. To detect HPV, electronic or molecular hybridization methods are used.

Types of human papillomavirus

In humans, there is HPV, which affects the mucosa 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 related to the ability to integrate DNA into the genome of human cells.

The virus is activated in 10-20% of cases. Depending on its type, it can lead to benign or malignant lesions. Some HPVs are not oncogenic. They lead to the appearance of warts and genital warts. The most common are HPV 6 and 11.

HPV oncogenes are those that have a high risk of developing cancerous lesions, especially in the cervix or anus. As for the skin, HPV 16 and 18, as well as 5 and 8, which can lead to skin cancer, are more common. The most common form of cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer. But men can also be infected with the papilloma virus, which in the worst cases causes cancer of the penis or anus.

Often women encounter HPV 16 - this is a form in which introsomal parasitism is observed, that is, outside the cellular chromosome (benign). HPV 18 has a high risk of developing cancer - initially benign tumors are formed, which after some time degenerate into cancer. Virions in this case have small sizes (up to 30 nm).

• cervical neoplasms;
• invasive or pre-invasive oncology;
• genital warts of the urinary tract and genitals.

Characteristics of the infection

Human papillomavirus is highly contagious. It is usually transmitted through direct skin-to-skin or mucous-to-mucosal contact with an infected person. For a genital infection, this most often occurs during vaginal or oral sex. Having a large number of sexual partners or other STIs (sexually transmitted infections) 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 spreads quickly to others. As a rule, warts and condylomas do not cause metastases and often disappear spontaneously.

Symptoms of HPV

The incubation period lasts up to 9 months (3 months on average). HPV can be present in the body without visible symptoms. The virus can remain undetected for months or years. Even at this stage it is sticky.

Skin warts usually appear in clusters and increase in number when scratched. The two most common forms of papillomas are either gray, hard, raised with a broken surface (common wart) or flat and reddish (flat wart). Prickly warts appear on the soles of the feet or heels, grow from the inside and are therefore often painful.

• Genital warts. Pale or reddish nodules that often appear in groups and occur in the labia, vagina, penis, urethra, anal canal and rectum. They are very sticky.
• Flat condylomas. They appear in the form of flat nodules and are found mainly in the female genital organs. They increase the risk of developing cancer.
• Giant condylomas (Buschke-Levenshtein tumors). They grow in large formations, destroying the 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.
It is more difficult to detect an asymptomatic course, which the doctor can only see with the help of aids such as acetic acid (causes warts to turn white) or with a microscope.

In addition, the virus can also reside in cells without any tissue changes. Then they talk about a latent infection, i. e. the presence of pathogens, but without symptoms. Once infected, this stage can last from several weeks to several months.

Possible consequences

When infected, the viruses penetrate the cells of the integral tissue of the skin and mucous membrane, settle in the nuclei of the cellular structures and multiply there. Typically, such HPV infections go unnoticed and heal on their own without consequences, as the immune system successfully fights the pathogen.

However, some types of HPV create skin changes called growths. Possible forms include genital warts or condylomas and papillomas, which can affect, for example, the face, arms or legs.

The resulting tissue changes are mostly benign, but can also degenerate and lead to cancer. For example, cancer can occur decades after an HPV infection. Cancer of the female external genitalia (cancer of the vulva and vagina), anal cancer, penile cancer, and cancer of the mouth and throat (tumors of the head and neck) are also possible.

Establishing the diagnosis

As part of preventive visits to the gynecologist, a test for HPV infection is performed in women. During a gynecological examination, a smear is taken from the lining of the cervix, this is called a Papanicolaou test (cytological examination). The resulting material is studied for tissue changes to determine precancerous conditions.

In addition, an HPV test can be performed, in which cellular material from a mucosal swab or tissue sample is tested in the laboratory for the presence of certain viruses. However, this only proves that the affected area is infected, but does not give any statement as to whether tissue changes have occurred. Thus, an HPV test makes sense, especially when combined with a Pap test, and can help detect cancer precursors at an early stage.

If the test is positive, there is no cause for concern as infections do not always lead to cancer. Regular examination is recommended to detect tissue changes at an early stage. Conversely, a negative test result does not indicate whether there was a past infection that the body successfully fought off.

For men, there is no preventive screening in which the test would be performed regularly. If an underlying cancer is present, testing the tumor can determine whether HPV infection is the underlying cause of the cancer.

Specialized DNA methods are also used in laboratory diagnostics, such as real-time PCR. Anogenital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11 are easily detected during a gynecological examination.

How to cure human papillomavirus

In most cases, the disease does not require treatment, because it passes by itself and then the viruses are no longer detected. However, if this is not the case, the infection may last longer and persist for months or years.

To date, there are no methods of systemic influence 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 the remaining viruses and thus get rid of them. In some cases, pathogens survive and can cause disease symptoms again and again.

• Plantar and genital warts can be treated with medications formulated with salicylic acid for topical application.
• Cryotherapy is also a method often used for HPV. In this case, the wart is burned with cold, using liquid nitrogen.
• Equally used methods are lasers or electrocautery.

For cancer caused by HPV, treatment is much more difficult. For cervical cancer, it is often recommended to remove the uterus, namely the upper part of the vagina and the ovaries. This can be supplemented with radiation therapy to eliminate the possibility of recurrence. Other cancers caused by HPV are more often treated with targeted therapy, such as radiation or chemotherapy.

It should be remembered that surgery is not a radical solution, but only solves a cosmetic problem, since after removal the virus can remain in the surrounding tissues and condylomas can appear again.

Prevention of infection

There are two vaccines: 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 age 14 and older.

Vaccination does not protect against all types of HPV. Therefore, all women aged 25 to 65, even if vaccinated, are advised to undergo regular smear examinations.

Timely detection and complete removal of condylomas reduces the risk of the disease. The effectiveness of using condoms to protect against the transmission of infection can significantly reduce the risk of developing this disease. The most promising way to prevent and treat the initial stages of the disease caused by this infection is a specific polyvalent vaccine.

Why plantar warts appear and treatment methods

Warts are skin lesions that appear in the form of special round formations that protrude above the surface. They are caused by specific viruses.

These formations often cause physical discomfort due to their location. Even after treatment, they tend to recur.

Types and reasons

There are many types of warts; they are classified according to a number of characteristics:

1. Simple. They occur on exposed parts of the body, arms, legs, face and head. They are usually not dangerous, but they are not aesthetically pleasing and can multiply quickly, affecting large areas of the skin. They are arranged as in "families".
2. Plantar. Their localization is exclusively on foot. It causes discomfort while walking.

The main cause is infection with the human papillomavirus, which affects the mucous membrane and skin.

Human papillomavirus

This is one of the most common viruses on Earth. Infection can occur in several ways:

• contact and family (through touch);
• sexual (genital, anal, oral-genital);
• at birth from mother to child.

The period of development of the disease varies from several weeks to tens of years, this is explained by the fact that the virus may not appear for a long time, but as soon as the immunity weakens a little, growths appear immediately on the skin and/or mucous membranes. The main risk of this disease is that some types of HPV are very likely to cause the formation of a malignant tumor (cancer of the skin or mucosa). To make sure that the disease will not lead to the formation of a tumor, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a doctor and not to self-medicate.

Symptoms and types of leg warts

A plantar wart appears as a single-layer callus-like thickening of the stratum corneum of the skin. It interferes with walking and causes pain. The passive state is characterized by slow reproduction, not reaching the stratum corneum of the epithelium, so this state is not manifested externally.

The active state is characterized by the fact that the virus develops rapidly and, rising to the upper layers of the epidermis, manifests itself in numerous symptoms. Plantar warts are also called spinous warts, chicken warts. The virus enters during its contact with the skin through cuts and scratches in the outer layer of the skin:

1. First, a small yellow-gray papule with an uneven surface appears.
2. Gradually, the small element becomes dense and acquires a dirty color.

From the inside, a plantar wart looks like fused papillae of different sizes with a pink tint. Additional capillary vessels form there, which cause bleeding if you catch a wart.

Removal of plantar warts

A plantar wart should be treated if:

1. There are painful sensations.
2. The wart is bleeding.
3. There were stains on it.
4. Warts quickly increase in size.

There are many treatment methods. One of them is cryodestruction. The meaning of the method is to expose the wart to liquid nitrogen at a temperature of minus 196 degrees. The area affected by the virus is lifted and the wart is removed.

The usual and aggressive method of exposure is used. With the aggressive 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 and exists for more than six months, then the effectiveness of cryodestruction is greatly reduced, and the meaning of such an operation, accordingly, also disappears.

After you have removed a plantar wart using liquid nitrogen, you should follow some recommendations:

• the blister remaining at the site of the wart cannot be opened;
• to avoid mechanical damage, use a sterile bandage and not a plaster;
• Treat the affected area with 2% salicylic alcohol 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 takes place with minimal discomfort and does not allow inflammation, as the laser has antiseptic properties. Moreover, this is a non-contact method.

There are several ways:

1. Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. Treatment in this case occurs using infrared light. The method is 70% effective, but the downside is that healthy tissue can also be damaged.
2. Erbium laser. This treatment method uses a shorter wavelength, which reduces the likelihood of tooth decay after surgery. The efficiency is usually 75%.
3. Pulsed color laser. With this method of exposure, primary destruction of enlarged capillaries in warts and stimulation of the immune system, which contributes to effective healing. The effectiveness of the treatment is about 95%.

After laser treatment, a crust forms on the affected area, which disappears on its own within seven to ten days. The recommendations for this treatment method are the same as after exposure to nitrogen - avoid mechanical damage and water penetration.

Another way to remove warts is electrocoagulation. In this case, a high-frequency current is applied to the wart. The treatment is performed under local anesthesia. Exposure of the wart to high temperatures leads to the evaporation of cells affected by the papilloma virus. Another advantage of this method is that cauterization of blood vessels prevents bleeding. After the operation, a crust forms on the affected skin area, which disappears within 7 to 10 days.

A plantar wart can be treated with direct surgery. In this case, the excision takes place under local anesthesia, then stitches are placed. After the operation, the doctor will prescribe certain recommendations. Thus, it is recommended to prevent water and soap from entering the affected area, not to remove the resulting crust, and to treat the affected area with an antiseptic in the first 7-10 days.

For each type of operation there are certain contraindications. 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;
• worsening of herpes;
• elevated temperature.

If the blood pressure is high, the procedure should also be postponed.

Treatment of warts without surgery

People often ask how to remove a plantar wart without surgery. To do this, you can use ointments and pharmaceutical solutions.

Basically, these ointments have the following effects:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antiseptic;
• immunomodulatory;
• antiviral;
• antifungal.

In addition, it may contain vitamin E, which also has a positive effect on treatment, as vitamins generally strengthen the body and reduce the risk of relapse.

It is important that these products are used for single, shallow plantar warts. Moreover, if any side effects appear, it is necessary to wash the medicine with plenty of warm water and immediately seek help from a doctor.

So, it is possible to cure warts, there are many ways to do this, but you should not do this without first consulting a doctor, so as not to harm your health. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate if the attending physician prescribes contraindications.

Treatment of papillomas on the body

Hardware methods

Modern hardware methods for the treatment of papillomas make it possible to remove them and prevent the recurrence of the disease. The most used methods are:

• Cryodestruction is the destruction of growths by exposing them to low temperatures.
• Electrocautery 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 influence is clear from the name. The procedure takes no more than 15 minutes and helps to get rid of unpleasant growths forever.

Drug treatment

Among the medications used are preparations celandine, castor oil, lapis, Sani Skin and Dermavit.

They show different effectiveness and do not prevent the recurrence of the disease. The main disadvantage of drug therapy for papillomas is the frequent development of allergic reactions.

Prevention of papillomas

To avoid the appearance of growths and to avoid infection with the human papillomavirus, you should:

• Use barrier contraception during sexual intercourse.
• Respect the rules of personal hygiene and use only individual towels, soap and toothbrush.
• When visiting public baths, do not neglect to wear rubber shoes.

You should also normalize your daily routine, eat a balanced diet, give up bad habits and avoid stressful situations. These factors are not the cause of the disease, but can provoke its development if the virus is already present in the body.