What is human papillomavirus and how to treat it

Human papillomavirus (HPV) affects epithelial cells with particles 55 nm in diameter. A special feature is the proliferation of skin epithelium as well as mucous membranes. In the initial stage, pathogens usually affect the basal cells of the epithelium, penetrating into them through microtrauma. Localized papillomas typically occur in the skin of the neck, armpits, groin, and genitals (most commonly), oral mucosa, and nasopharynx.The virus can persist for many years without any symptoms. To detect HPV, electron microscopy or molecular hybridization methods are used.

Types of human papillomavirus

In humans, HPV exists, which affects mucous membranes and skin. Within the large population of papillomaviruses, species with low and high carcinogenic risks are distinguished. Carcinogenic properties have been shown to be 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 cause benign or malignant lesions. Some types of HPV are not carcinogenic. They can cause the appearance of warts and genital warts. The most common are HPV 6 and 11.HPV oncogenes are those that carry a high risk of developing cancer, especially in the cervix or anus. As for the skin, HPV types 16 and 18, as well as HPV types 5 and 8, which can cause skin cancer, are more common. The most well-known cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer. But men can also be infected with papillomavirus, which in the worst cases can lead to penile or anal cancer.Women frequently encounter HPV 16 - a form observed to be parasitic in the body, i. e. extrachromosomal (benign). HPV 18 carries a high risk of cancer - first forming benign tumors that degenerate into cancer over time. In this case, the size of the virions is small (maximum 30 nm).

• Cervical tumors;
• Invasive or pre-invasive oncology;
• Genital warts of the urinary tract and genitals.

Infection characteristics

Human papillomavirus is highly contagious. It is usually spread through direct contact with an infected person, skin-to-skin, or mucosa-to-mucosal contact. For genital infections, they most commonly occur 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 may occur during delivery, when the infection is active. If infected with HPV 16 or 18, the risk increases to 40%.By penetrating the epithelium and disrupting its integrity, papillomavirus infection promotes the growth of the underlying epithelial cells in the form of genital warts or warts. The disease is contagious and can spread quickly to other people. Generally speaking, warts and genital warts do not cause metastasis and usually disappear on their own.

HPV symptoms

The incubation period is up to 9 months (average 3 months). HPV can be present in the body without obvious symptoms. The virus may go undetected for months or years. Even at this stage, it is contagious.Skin warts usually appear in clusters and increase in number when scratched. The two most common types of papillomas are either gray, hard, raised, with a broken surface (warts vulgaris) or flat, reddish (plana warts). Spiny warts occur on the soles or heels of the feet, grow inward, and are often painful.

• Genital warts. Pale or reddish nodules, often found in clusters, on the labia, vagina, penis, urethra, anal canal, and rectum. They are highly contagious.
• Flat genital warts. They appear as flat nodes, mostly on the female reproductive organs. They increase the risk of cancer.
• Giant genital warts (Buschke-Levenshtein tumors). They grow into massive structures that damage surrounding tissue. In rare cases, they can degenerate and lead to squamous cell carcinoma.

Upper respiratory tract mucosal infection is also possible. The conjunctiva of the eye may be affected, causing pink, stem-like growths.
It is more difficult to detect the asymptomatic course, which doctors can only see with the help of aids such as acetic acid (which causes the warts to discolor) or a microscope.Additionally, the virus can colonize cells without any changes in the tissue. Then they talk about latent infection, where the pathogen is present but there are no symptoms. Once infected, this stage may last from weeks to months.

possible consequences

After infection, the virus penetrates the cells of the epithelial tissues of the skin and mucous membranes, settles in the nuclei of the cellular structures and multiplies there. Typically, this HPV infection goes unnoticed and resolves on its own without any consequences because the immune system successfully fights the pathogen.However, some types of HPV can cause skin changes called growths. Possible forms include genital or genital warts and papillomas, which can affect the face, arms, or legs, among others.The resulting tissue changes are mostly benign, but can also degenerate and lead to cancer. For example, cancer can develop decades after an HPV infection. Cancers of the female external genitalia (cancers of the vulva and vagina), anus, penis, and the mouth and throat (head and neck tumors) are also possible.

Create a diagnosis

Women are tested for HPV infection as part of a preventive visit to their gynecologist. During a gynecological exam, a smear is taken from the lining of the cervix, which is called a Pap test (cytology test). The resulting material is studied for tissue changes to identify precancerous lesions.Additionally, HPV testing is available, in which cellular material from mucosal swabs or tissue samples is tested in the laboratory for the presence of certain viruses. However, this only proves that the affected area is infected, but does not make any statement about whether the tissue has changed. Therefore, HPV testing makes sense, especially when combined with Pap smear testing, to help detect early signs of cancer.If the test is positive, there is no need to worry as infection does not always lead to cancer. Regular inspections are recommended to detect organizational changes as early as possible. Conversely, a negative test result does not indicate whether the body successfully fought off the past infection.For men, there are no preventive exams with regular testing. 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 exam.

How to Cure Human Papilloma Virus

In most cases, the disease does not require treatment because it goes away on its own and the virus is no longer detectable. However, if this is not the case, the infection may last longer and persist for months or years.To date, there are no methods that can impact the virus systemically to eliminate it completely. However, treating existing warts will reduce the amount of virus, so in many cases the immune system can fight off the remaining viruses, eliminating them. In some cases, the pathogen survives and may cause disease symptoms again and again.

• Plantar and genital warts can be treated with topical medications formulated with salicylic acid.
• Cryotherapy is also a commonly used method for HPV. In this case, liquid nitrogen is used to cool the wart.
• Laser or electrocautery are the same methods used.

For cancers caused by HPV, treatment is much more difficult. For cervical cancer, removal of the uterus, upper vagina, and ovaries is usually recommended. Radiation therapy may be supplemented to eliminate the possibility of recurrence. Other cancers caused by HPV often use targeted treatments, such as radiation or chemotherapy.It should be remembered that surgery is not a fundamental solution, but only a cosmetic solution, since after removal the virus may remain in the surrounding tissue and genital warts may reappear.

Prevent infection

There are two vaccinations available: the bivalent vaccine against HPV 16 and 18 and the quadrivalent vaccine against HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18. Vaccination is recommended for all young girls 14 years and older.Vaccination does not protect against all types of HPV. Therefore, all women aged 25 to 65 years, even if vaccinated, are recommended to have regular smear tests.Prompt detection and complete removal of genital warts can reduce the risk of the disease. Using condoms to effectively prevent the spread of infection can significantly reduce the risk of contracting the disease. The most promising approach to preventing and treating the early stages of disease caused by this infection is specific multivalent vaccines.

Why do plantar warts appear and how to treat them

Warts are skin lesions that appear in the form of specialized round structures that protrude from the surface. They are caused by specific viruses.These structures often cause physical discomfort due to their location. Even after treatment, they tend to relapse.

Types and causes

There are many types of warts; they are classified based on a number of characteristics:

1. simple. They occur on exposed areas of the body, arms, legs, face, and scalp. They are not usually dangerous, but they are unsightly and can multiply quickly, affecting large areas of skin. They are arranged like "family".
2. soles of feet. Their positioning is entirely on the feet. Causes discomfort when walking.

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

human papilloma virus

This is one of the most common viruses on earth. Infection can occur in a variety of ways:

• contact and family (through touch);
• Sexual (genital, anal, orogenital);
• During childbirth from mother to child.

The disease develops over a period of time from weeks to decades, as the virus may not manifest itself for a long time, but as soon as immunity weakens, growths will appear on the skin immediately. skin and/or mucous membranes. The main danger of this disease is the high probability that certain types of HPV lead to the formation of malignant tumors (cancers of the skin or mucous membranes). To make sure that the disease is not causing tumors to form, you need to get checked out by a doctor rather than self-medicating.

Symptoms and types of foot warts

Plantar warts appear as callus-like thickenings with stratum corneum. It can interfere with walking and cause pain. The passive state is characterized by slow reproduction and does not reach the epithelial stratum corneum, so this condition does not manifest externally.The active state is characterized by the rapid growth of the virus and its rise to the upper layers of the epidermis, where it exhibits a variety of symptoms. Plantar warts are also called spinous warts and chicken warts. The virus enters through cuts and scrapes in the outer layer of skin when in contact with the skin:

1. First, a small yellow-gray pimple with an uneven surface appears.
2. Gradually, the small elements become dense and acquire dirty colors.

Internally, plantar warts look like fused papillae of varying sizes and are pink in color. Extra capillaries form there, causing bleeding if the wart becomes infected.

Remove plantar warts

Plantar warts are worth treating if:

1. There is a painful feeling.
2. The wart is bleeding.
3. There are spots on it.
4. Warts rapidly increase in size.

There are many types of treatments. One of them is freeze damage. The implication of this method is to expose the wart to liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees. The areas affected by the virus are frozen and the warts are removed.Use common and aggressive exposure methods. The radical method is to apply nitrogen for a few more seconds, but this method is more painful. It should be noted that if warts appear and persist for more than six months, the effectiveness of cryodestruction is greatly reduced, and accordingly, the significance of such surgery is lost.After using liquid nitrogen to remove plantar warts, there are some recommendations you should follow:

• Residual blisters at the wart site cannot be opened;
• To avoid mechanical damage, use sterile bandages rather than plasters;
• Apply 2% salicyl alcohol to the affected area twice a day;
• Try to prevent water from entering the affected area.

Another method is laser coagulation. This is one of the most common ways to remove warts. Most laser systems are equipped with special cooling systems. Therefore, there is minimal discomfort during the procedure and no inflammation due to the antibacterial properties of the laser. Moreover, it is a contactless method.There are several methods:

1. Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. Treatment in this case is carried out using infrared rays. This method is 70% effective, but the downside is that healthy tissue can also be damaged.
2. Erbium laser. This treatment uses shorter wavelengths, which reduces the likelihood of scarring after surgery. Efficiency is typically 75%.
3. Pulsed dye laser. This method of exposure primarily destroys the dilated capillaries in the wart and stimulates the immune system, thus aiding in effective healing. The treatment effectiveness is approximately 95%.

After laser treatment, scabs will form on the affected area and disappear on their own within seven to ten days. Recommendations for this treatment are the same as for treatment after exposure to nitrogen - avoid mechanical damage and water intrusion.The next method for removing warts is electrocoagulation. In this case, a high-frequency current is applied to the wart. Treatment is performed under local anesthesia. Exposing warts to high temperatures can cause the cells affected by the papilloma virus to evaporate. Another advantage of this method is that cauterizing the blood vessels prevents bleeding. After surgery, scabs will form on the affected area of skin and disappear within 7 to 10 days.Plantar warts can be treated with direct surgery. In this case, excision is performed under local anesthesia, followed by suturing. After the operation, the doctor will give certain suggestions. Therefore, it is recommended to prevent water and soap from entering the affected area, not to peel off the resulting crust, and to treat the affected area with an antiseptic for the first 7-10 days.Each type of surgery has certain contraindications. Therefore, the operation will not be possible if:

• Pregnant;
• diabetes;
• Malignant tumors in the body;
• Infection and inflammation around warts;
• worsening of herpes;
• The temperature rises.

Surgery should also be postponed if your blood pressure is high.

Treat warts without surgery

People often wonder how to remove plantar warts without surgery. For this, you can use ointments and solutions.Basically, these ointments do the following:

• anti-inflammatory (drug;
• preservative;
• Immunomodulatory;
• antiviral substances;
• Antifungal.

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

It is important that these products be used on single and superficial plantar warts. Also, if any side effects occur, wash off the medication with plenty of warm water and seek medical attention immediately.

So, curing warts is possible and there are many ways to do it, but it should not be done without first consulting a doctor to avoid damaging your health. In addition, self-medication is strictly prohibited if the attending physician has contraindications.

Treatment of Body Papillomas

hardware method

Modern hardware methods of treating papillomas can eliminate them and prevent recurrence of the disease. The most common methods are:

• Freeze damage is the destruction of growths by exposing them to low temperatures.
• Electrocoagulation uses an electric current to cauterize tissue, with the intensity and frequency of the current chosen based on the size, type and density of the papilloma.
• Laser removal. The type of impact is clear from the name. The process takes no more than 15 minutes and helps eliminate unpleasant growths permanently.

medical treatement

Medications used include Celandine, Castor Oil, Lapis Lazuli Pen, Sani Skin and Dermavit preparations.They show varying effectiveness and do not prevent disease recurrence. The main disadvantage of medical treatment of papillomas is the frequent occurrence of allergic reactions.

Papilloma Prevention

To avoid developing growths and avoiding infection with human papillomavirus, you should:

• Use barrier contraception during sexual intercourse.
• Follow personal hygiene rules and use only personal towels, soap and toothbrushes.
• Don’t forget to wear rubber shoes when visiting public baths.

You should also regulate your daily life, eat a balanced diet, break bad habits, and avoid stressful situations. These factors are not the cause of the disease but may trigger the development of the disease if the virus is already present in the body.