Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes growth of skin epithelium, anogenital mucosa, and upper respiratory tract. Less frequently damaged internal organs - esophagus, bronchi, rectum, bladder. The activity of the virus causes various forms of tumors. Some of them are quite benign and some pose a threat to cancer. In what cases does the papilloma require special attention and removal? The article will say about it.
Route of infection
The infection occurs after contact with a carrier of the virus, as well as with a sick person or animal. It is worth noting that an infected person may completely lack clinical manifestations of papillomatosis. He sometimes doesn’t even know about his infection. The virus penetrates the human body through micro-lesions of the skin or mucous membranes. Single virus particles are sufficient for the infectious process to develop. The virus is able to maintain its viability in the environment. That is why it is possible to get infected during hygiene procedures and in everyday life (shaving, epilation, combing the skin, self-injection). Baths, swimming pools, gyms, etc. are considered to be the main public places of infection. , mass illnesses were registered among students. A carrier of a human papillomavirus infection can become a newborn by passing through the mother's birth canal.
HPV types
Currently, researchers have identified about 180 HPV types, of which 29 strains are considered oncogenic. Depending on their oncogenic potential, they are divided into viruses:
- low degree of oncoactivity (types 6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70, 72, 81),
- average degree of onactivity (types 26, 31, 33, 35, 51, 52, 53, 58, 66)
- high degree of onactivity (16, 18, 39, 45, 56, 59, 68, 73, 82).
According to the latest data, one or another strain of the human papillomavirus may be present in the blood of about 80% of the world's population. However, this does not mean that all infected people have papillomatosis. What factors provoke the development of the disease?
Immunity and papilloma
Why does the virus disappear in the body of some people without a trace, in others it remains without consequences for a lifetime, leading to the formation of papillomas in others? HPV is an infection that can suppress the immune system. In healthy people and carriers of the virus, a strong immune system is observed, which inhibits the reproduction of the foreign body. The special role of cellular immunity has been confirmed. It blocks the survival of the virus at its level (the ability to remain active for a long time outside the acute phase) and, in some cases, contributes to the regression of lesions. Spontaneous regression of papillomatosis occurs within six months. However, not every organism's defense is so high, and then the latent HPV infection turns into an open (manifest) form. Papilloma is caused by factors such as:
- carefree sex life, frequent change of partners;
- contact with a partner with a history of genital papillomatosis;
- the presence of co-occurring sexually transmitted infections;
- immunodeficiency conditions in vitamin deficiency, atopic dermatitis, pregnancy, AIDS;
- common colds and SARS;
- hormonal contraception;
- autoimmune diseases;
- smoking and alcohol.
Skin with damage or a tendency to inflammation becomes a powerful provoking factor, it ceases to perform a protective function. Therefore, the risk group includes people with inflammatory skin diseases (acne, rashes), eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis.
Respiratory papillomatosis
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is the most common benign laryngeal tumor. In the airways, papillomas occur in any area from the nasopharynx to the lung parenchyma. But it most often damages the larynx. The severity of the disease is determined by the presence of regrowth at its narrowest point, which contributes to respiratory obstruction to asphyxiation. In adults, it is considered a mandatory anticancer cancer because of the high degree of malignancy (degeneration into a malignancy). The main symptom of the disease is usually hoarseness, which later develops into loss of ringing in the voice. The patient can speak in whispers. In the first stage, the onset of airway papillomatosis is sometimes confused with acute laryngitis. Therefore, it is not possible to prescribe treatment without endoscopic examination. Various physiotherapy procedures in the larynx lead to rapid growth of papilloma.
Baby warts
Warts are benign derivatives of the epidermis that are most commonly encountered in children and adolescents. They develop on the face, hands, neck, often causing a lot of emotional problems for their owners. However, more than 70% of these types of papillomas disappear without a trace within 1. 5 to 2 years. Therefore, doctors only remove them as a last resort, because after the end of hormonal changes, it is quite possible that the body will cope with HPV infection on its own. Additional risk factors in childhood include frequent stress associated with studying and taking exams, fatigue, lack of sleep, malnutrition, delicate baby skin, and adolescent acne.
Is it necessary to remove papillomas on the skin
Some neoplasms degenerate into malignancies. This process cannot be overlooked if one is attentive to oneself. It is necessary to sound if one of the symptoms is detected:
- the size and configuration of the papilloma change (it grows rapidly, the edges are blurred, additional growths and seals form);
- the color of the neoplasm changes with darkening;
- inflammatory process joins, skin peels, cracks, exudate is released;
- pain occurs.
All of the above are indications for regrowth removal. It is also worth resorting to a radical problem-solving approach if the papilloma is present in areas accessible to the injury on a daily basis (on the neck, armpits, lumbar area, etc. ). Continuous grazing and eradication can initiate the oncological process as well as contribute to the infiltration of pathogenic microorganisms.
Methods for removal of neoplasms
Destructive treatments for skin growths are divided into:
- chemical (trichloroacetic acid 80-90% and other drugs);
- physical (plasma coagulation, cryodestruction, laser therapy, electrosurgery).
If the removal of adolescents or pregnant women is expected, then only laser therapy is used. The use of topical antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs is indicated after destruction.
However, the primary route of removal of laryngeal papillomas is endolareal surgery under anesthesia using a microinstrument or surgical laser, followed by stable remission in only one-third of patients. A combined method is used in practice: additional cryodestruction (with a local form of the disease) is performed, and local anti-tumor drugs are given. The most common is inhalation with a special solution.