Most people do not see a potential danger in the appearance of small epithelial tumors on the body, but papillomas are not only a cosmetic defect. In some cases, they can lead to irreversible consequences. Growths arise as a result of infection with HPV - a highly contagious virus that has more than 100 genotypes, and some of its types can cause the development of oncological processes. It is easy to get infected with the papillomavirus, so to avoid infection, you need to know how the human papillomavirus is transmitted and what factors contribute to the spread of the virion.
All routes of HPV infection
There is a tendency that in families where there is one carrier of the virus, in 50-70% of cases people around him become infected. The main danger is that the infection, after entering the body, does not manifest itself immediately, 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 absolutely safe for his close circle.
Infection by contact in the household
A virus carrier can transmit a pathogenic virion (virus particle) to a healthy person by:
- Simple tactile contact, for example, hugs, handshakes. The probability of HPV infection increases if there are lesions on the skin (even small wounds, scratches or scratches are enough for the infection to penetrate a healthy body);
- Using personal belongings of a sick person. Virus particles can live for a long time on bedding, towels, underwear, cloths and other products for daily use;
- While kissing. HPV DNA is not only found on the epithelium, but is present in all biological fluids of an infected person, so it can be transmitted by saliva during a kiss.
In addition, you can get infected with HPV when visiting public places such as a sauna, swimming pool, fitness center, where there are large crowds of people, many of whom ignore the basic rules of protection. Therefore, you must use only personal hygiene and household products.
Sexual transmission of viruses
The most common route of transmission of human papillomavirus infection is sexual contact. If one partner, whether male or female, is a carrier of 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, be it oral, vaginal or anal sex, while the presence of condyloma in the partner's anogenital area increases the risk of infection by up to 100%.
It is interesting that even a condom cannot fully protect against a possible infection:
- First, papillomatous rash can be localized not only on the genitals, but also in the groin and anus. Therefore, after contact with unprotected parts of the body, the virus can easily be transmitted from one partner to another;
- Secondly, the latex from which the condom is made has quite large pores. Viral particles penetrate freely through them.
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 develop into cervical cancer.
Despite the fact that 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 cancerous virus occurs during oral sex, the likelihood of developing tonsil cancer increases.
Vertical infection (from mother to child)
Children can be infected with the papilloma virus in the womb or immediately at birth (while passing through the natural birth canal). Moreover, if the mother's HPV progresses (is in an active phase), then the risk of infection of the baby increases.
Intrauterine infection is extremely rare, because the placenta is able to protect the embryo from many pathogenic factors, including viral infections. Cases of transmission of HPV to the baby during passage through the birth canal of an infected mother are recorded somewhat more often.
At the time of birth, the mucous membranes of the child's larynx and trachea are affected, which later leads to recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). This is a dangerous pathology that poses a threat to the baby's life. During 1-2 years, children with RRP develop benign neoplasms of the trachea and larynx, which block the airways and cause suffocation.
In such a situation, only surgical removal of papillomatous growths will help, however, even after destruction, tumors usually reappear. Parents whose children suffer from RRP must carefully monitor the state of their immune system, because reduced immunity increases the risk of recurrence.
Some women who are about to become pregnant worry that the papilloma virus could be passed on to the child, but this is not the case. The ways 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. The infected person should understand that any trauma to the tumor can cause the formation of additional growths.
Papillomas localized on the face, neck, armpit or groin are often cut with a razor, scratched or torn during hygiene procedures. When the integrity of the growth is compromised, blood leaks out of it and flows to healthy adjacent parts of the body. Since viral particles are present in all the patient's biological fluids, blood entering the clean epithelium causes the spread of infection and the formation of multiple papillomatous rashes.
In addition, when scratching growths with nails, particles of pathogenic epithelium remain under the plates, which also often contributes to self-infection. For example, after a person has scratched a papilloma with his nails and suddenly decides to scratch his ear or nose, then, if there is the slightest damage to the epithelium, the virus will definitely "settle" in it, and then manifest itself as characteristic growths.
After entering the body, the activation of HPV is not observed immediately, the virus requires certain conditions for full functioning.
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, so when the immune defense is reduced, its activation occurs.
The body of a healthy person, even after infection, can produce a sufficient amount of antibodies to fully resist viral attacks. In such people, the disease is latent (in a state of rest), so there are no epithelial tumors on the body.
When the immune system is weakened, it produces a significantly smaller amount of antibodies that cannot independently suppress the virus, and then HPV is activated with the formation of a papillomatous rash. The following unfavorable factors can cause the transition of the papilloma virus to the active phase:
- all recently suffered pathologies of an infectious nature;
- long-term use of oral contraceptives;
- uncontrolled use of cytostatics (suppression of the immune system);
- dysfunction in the endocrine system;
- pathological condition of the gastrointestinal tract, especially intestinal dysbiosis;
- psycho-emotional disorders associated with frequent stress, nervousness, fatigue;
- helminth infestations;
- frequent inflammatory skin diseases;
- the presence of bad habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, drugs).
Important!
Any factor that reduces the effectiveness of the human immune system can cause HPV activation.
The formation of the first growths is the reason to consult a doctor. There is no need for self-medication, because in some cases inadequate treatment of papillomas leads to the development of cancerous tumors.
Treatment of papilloma virus
Since drugs that can cure the papilloma virus have not yet been invented, it is impossible to completely remove it from the body for a person after 30 years. Cases of elimination of HPV were recorded only in young people under 25 years of age.
Treatment of papillomatosis is carried out in three directions:
- suppression of virus activity (return to latent state) by taking antiviral drugs;
- increasing the immune status of the patient using interferon drugs;
- destruction of pathological neoplasms with minimally invasive hardware techniques;
- cytostatics are prescribed when there is a high probability of papilloma malignancy (they interfere with the process of division of atypical cells).
Antiviral drugs prescribed by a doctor can be for oral, local, injection or rectal use:
- Tablets (oral administration);
- 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 the external treatment of tumors.
Cytostatics are prescribed if, after diagnosis, it is determined that the papillomatous rash is caused by a highly oncogenic type of HPV.
Destructive techniques that are most often used to remove pathological tumors are:
- Electrocoagulation– cauterization of growths with electric current. The procedure is painful and leaves visible scars;
- Cryotherapy- the papilloma is frozen under the influence of liquid nitrogen, leaving no traces behind, but the procedure is recommended for the removal of small surface tumors;
- Laser destruction- suitable for removing superficial and deep papillomas, good cosmetic effect allows use on open parts of the body;
- Radio wave technique- non-contact removal of growths is performed, with a short recovery period, there are no traces or scars after the intervention.
After completing the course of treatment, do not forget about preventive medical examinations. It is necessary to periodically (preferably every year) test for HPV, as well as carefully monitor the state of the immune system.