Most people do not see 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 HPV infection - a highly contagious virus that has more than 100 genotypes, and some of its types can provoke the development of oncological processes. It is easy to become infected with the papillomavirus, therefore, to avoid infection, you must 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 carrier of the virus, in 50-70% of cases people around them become infected. The main danger is that the infection, having entered the body, does not manifest itself immediately, so a person can remain unaware of 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 absolutely safe for his close circle.
Household contact infection
A virus carrier can transmit a pathogenic virion (viral particle) to a healthy person through:
- Common tactile contact, e. g. hugs, handshakes. The likelihood of contracting HPV increases if there are lesions on the skin (even small wounds, abrasions or scratches are enough for the infection to penetrate a healthy body);
- Using personal items from a sick person. Viral particles can survive for a long time on bedding, towels, underwear, washcloths and other everyday products;
- While kissing. HPV DNA is not only found in the epithelium, it is present in all biological fluids of an infected person and can therefore be transmitted through saliva during a kiss.
In addition, you can become infected with HPV when visiting public places such as a sauna, swimming pool, gym, where there are large crowds of people, many of whom neglect basic protection rules. Therefore, it is necessary to use exclusively personal and household hygiene products.
Sexual transmission of the virus
The most common route of transmission of human papillomavirus infection is through sexual contact. If one of the partners, whether male or female, carries the virus, it is enough to have sexual intercourse once to become infected with HPV (infection occurs in 95% of cases).
The virus is transmitted through any type of sexual interaction, whether oral, vaginal or anal, while the presence of condylomas in the partner's anogenital region increases the risk of infection by up to 100%.
It is interesting that even a condom cannot completely protect against possible infection:
- Firstly, papillomatous rashes can be localized not only on the genitals, but also in the groin and anus. Therefore, when coming into contact with unprotected areas of the body, the virus can be easily transmitted from one partner to another;
- Secondly, the latex from which the condom is made has quite large pores. Viral particles penetrate through them unhindered.
Infection with oncogenically dangerous types of papillomavirus occurs mainly during sexual contact. If the carcinogenic type of HPV is transmitted to women, they develop neoplasia, which 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 malignancy. If infection with a carcinogenic virus occurs during oral sex, the likelihood of developing tonsil cancer increases.
Vertical infection (from mother to child)
Children can become infected with papillomavirus in utero or immediately at birth (during passage through the natural birth canal). Furthermore, if the mother's HPV progresses (is in the active phase), the baby's risk of infection increases.
Intrauterine infection is extremely rare, as the placenta is able to protect the embryo from various pathogenic factors, including viral infections. Cases of HPV transmission to a baby during passage through the birth canal of an infected mother are recorded a little more frequently.
At the time of birth, the mucous membranes of the child's larynx and trachea are affected, which subsequently leads to recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). This is a dangerous pathology that poses a threat to the baby's life. Over the course of 1 to 2 years, children with RRP develop benign neoplasms of the trachea and larynx, which block the airway and cause suffocation.
In such a situation, only surgical removal of papillomatous growths will help, however, even after destruction, tumors often reappear. Parents whose children suffer from RRP need to carefully monitor the status of their immune system, as decreased immunity increases the risk of relapse.
Some women preparing to become mothers fear that the papillomavirus could 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.
Infection autoinoculation method
Autoinfection (autoinoculation) is a very common type of infection. An infected person must understand that any trauma to the tumors can trigger the formation of additional growths.
Papillomas located on the face, neck, armpits or groin are often cut with a razor, scratched or torn during hygiene procedures. When growth integrity is disturbed, blood leaks and flows to neighboring healthy areas of the body. Since viral particles are present in all biological fluids of the patient, blood entering the clean epithelium causes the spread of infection and the formation of multiple papillomatous rashes.
In addition, when scratching the growths with your nails, particles of pathogenic epithelium remain under the plates, which often also contribute to self-infection. For example, after a person scratches a papilloma with his nails and suddenly decides to scratch his ear or nose, if there is even the slightest damage to the epithelium, the virus will definitely "settle" in it and then manifest itself as characteristic growths.
After introduction into the body, HPV activation is not observed immediately; the virus requires certain conditions for its full functioning.
When and what triggers HPV activation
How quickly and actively the papillomavirus begins to behave after infection is determined by the immune status of the infected person. HPV is part of the group of immune-dependent viruses, therefore it is during the decrease in immune defense that its activation occurs.
The body of a healthy person, even after infection, is capable of producing enough antibodies to fully resist viral attacks. In these people, the disease proceeds in a latent form (in latent mode), so there are no epithelial tumors in the body.
When the immune system is weakened, it produces significantly fewer antibodies that cannot independently suppress the virus, and then HPV becomes active with the formation of a papillomatous rash. The following unfavorable factors can provoke the transition of the papillomavirus to the active phase:
- any pathologies of an infectious nature suffered recently;
- prolonged use of oral contraceptives;
- uncontrolled use of cytostatic drugs (suppress the immune system);
- dysfunction in the endocrine system;
- pathological condition of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular intestinal dysbiosis;
- psycho-emotional disorders associated with frequent stress, nervousness, fatigue;
- helminth infestations;
- 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 consult a doctor. There is no need for self-medication, as in some cases inadequate therapy for papillomas leads to the development of cancerous tumors.
Papillomavirus treatment
Since drugs that can cure the papillomavirus have not yet been invented, it is impossible to completely remove it from a person's body after the age of 30. Cases of HPV elimination are only recorded in young people under 25 years of age.
Treatment of papillomatosis is carried out in three directions:
- suppression of viral activity (returning it to a latent state) through the use of antiviral medications;
- increase the patient's immune status through the use of interferon medications;
- destruction of pathological neoplasms using minimally invasive hardware techniques;
- cytostatic drugs are prescribed when there is a high probability of malignancy of papillomas (they stop the process of division of atypical cells).
Antiviral medications prescribed by a doctor can be for oral, topical, injectable or rectal use:
- Tablets (oral use);
- Gels, ointments (external use);
- Injections (injections);
- Suppositories (rectal suppositories).
Immunomodulatory drugs can also be prescribed in different forms, most often they are tablets and gels for external treatment of tumors.
Cytostatics are prescribed if, after diagnosis, it is determined that papillomatous rashes are provoked by a highly oncogenic type of HPV.
The most frequently used destructive techniques to remove pathological tumors are:
- Electrocoagulation– cauterization of growths with electric current. The procedure is painful and leaves visible scars;
- Cryotherapy– the papilloma freezes under the influence of liquid nitrogen, leaving no traces, but the procedure is recommended for removing small superficial tumors;
- Laser destruction– suitable for removing superficial and deep papillomas, a good cosmetic effect allows use on open parts of the body;
- Radio wave technique– the growths are removed without contact, with a short recovery period, leaving no traces or scars after the intervention.
After completing treatment, do not forget about preventive medical examinations. It is necessary to periodically (preferably every year) test for HPV, and also carefully monitor the state of the immune system.