Human papillomavirus (HPV) infects epithelial cells and its particles are 55 nm in diameter. A special feature is the proliferation of the skin epithelium, as well as mucous membranes. At the initial stage, the pathogen usually affects the basal cells of the epithelium, penetrating them through microtraumas. Local papillomas are usually found on the skin of the neck, armpits, groin and genitals (usually), oral mucosa and nasopharynx.
This virus can exist for years without symptoms. HPV detection uses electron microscopic or molecular hybridization methods.
Types of human papillomavirus
Humans have HPV that affects mucous membranes and skin. Among the many papillomaviruses, low and high oncogenic risk types are distinguished. Oncogenic properties have been shown to be associated with 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 HPVs are not oncogenic. They cause 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. When it comes to the skin, HPV 16 and 18 are more common, as well as 5 and 8, which can cause skin cancer. The most common type of cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer. However, men can also become infected with the papilloma virus, which in the worst case causes cancer of the penis or anus.
Often, women encounter HPV 16, which is a form in which introsomal parasitism is observed, i. e. i. e. outside the chromosome of the cell (benign). HPV 18 has a high risk of developing cancer - first benign tumors are formed, which after some time degenerate into cancer. In this case, the virions are small in size (up to 30 nm).
- neoplasms of the cervix;
- invasive or anti-invasive oncology;
- genital warts of the urinary tract and genitals.
Features of infection
Human papillomavirus is highly contagious. Transmission is usually through direct contact with an infected person, skin-to-skin, or mucous-to-mucous. Due to a genital infection, it usually occurs during vaginal or oral intercourse. Having many sexual partners or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increases the risk. Indirect transmission through objects, contaminated clothing or bedding is also possible, but this is quite rare.
In 7% of cases, the virus can be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth, when the infection is active. Infection with HPV 16 or 18 increases the risk to 40%.
Papilloma virus infection, penetrating the epithelium, damaging its integrity, 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. Usually, warts and condylomas do not metastasize and often disappear on their own.
HPV symptoms
The incubation period lasts up to 9 months (3 months on average). HPV can be present in the body without any obvious symptoms. The virus can go undetected for months or years. Even at this stage it is contagious.
Skin warts usually appear in groups and multiply when scratched. The two most common forms of papillomas are grayish, hard, raised with a broken surface (common wart) or flat and pink (flat wart). Prickly warts appear on the soles or heels, grow inward, and are often painful.
- Genital warts. Pale or pink nodules that often appear in groups and appear on the labia, vagina, penis, urethra, anal canal, and rectum. They are highly contagious.
- Flat warts. They appear in the form of flat nodules and are mainly found on the genitals of women. They increase the risk of developing cancer.
- Giant condylomas (Buschke-Levenshtein tumors). They grow into huge formations that destroy the surrounding tissues. In rare cases, they can degenerate into squamous cell carcinoma.
Infection of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract is also possible. The conjunctiva may be damaged, resulting in pink stalks.
It is more difficult to identify the asymptomatic course, which can only be seen by the doctor with the help of auxiliary means, such as acetic acid (causes the color of the wart) or with a microscope.
In addition, the virus can also reside in cells without any tissue changes. Then they talk about latent infection, that is, the presence of pathogens, but without symptoms. Once infected, this phase can last from several weeks to several months.
Possible consequences
Infected viruses penetrate the cells of the skin and mucous layer, settle in the nuclei of cell structures and reproduce there. Usually, 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 cause skin changes called growths. Possible forms include genital warts or condylomas and papillomas, which can affect, for example, the face, hands or feet.
The resulting tissue changes are usually benign, but can also degenerate and lead to cancer. For example, cancer can develop decades after an HPV infection. Cancer of the female external genitalia (cancer of the vulva and vagina), cancer of the anus, cancer of the penis, cancer of the mouth and throat (tumors of the head and neck) are also possible.
Establishing a diagnosis
Testing for HPV infection is performed in women as part of preventive visits to the gynecologist. During a gynecological examination, a smear is taken from the mucous membrane of the cervix, this is called a Papanicolaou test (cytological examination). The resulting material is examined for tissue changes to identify precancerous conditions.
In addition, an HPV test may be performed, in which cellular material from a mucosal swab or tissue sample is tested in a laboratory for the presence of certain viruses. However, this only proves that the affected area is infected, but does not make any statements about whether tissue changes have occurred. Thus, an HPV test makes sense, especially in conjunction with a Pap test, and can help detect cancer precursors at an early stage.
If the test is positive, there is no reason to worry, as infections do not always lead to cancer. In order to identify tissue changes at an early stage, regular examinations are recommended. Conversely, a negative test result does not indicate whether there was a previous infection that the body successfully fought against.
There is no preventive check-up for men, during which the examination is carried out regularly. If cancer is present, an examination of the tumor can determine whether the cancer is an HPV infection.
Specialized DNA techniques 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 papilloma virus
In most cases, the disease does not require treatment, because it goes away on its own 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 exposure to this virus that can completely destroy it. However, treating existing warts reduces the number of viruses, so in most cases the immune system can fight off the remaining viruses and get rid of them. In some cases, the pathogens survive and can cause disease symptoms again and again.
- Plantar and genital warts can be treated with topical medications containing salicylic acid.
- Cryotherapy is also often used to treat HPV. In this case, the wart is burned cold using liquid nitrogen.
- Lasers or electrocautery are equally used methods.
Cancer caused by HPV is much more difficult to treat. In cervical cancer, it is often advised to remove the uterus, upper vagina and ovaries respectively. This may be supplemented with radiation therapy to eliminate the possibility of relapse. Other cancers caused by HPV are usually treated with targeted therapy, e. g. , radiation or chemotherapy.
It should be remembered that the operation is not a radical solution, but only solves a cosmetic problem, because after removing the virus, it can remain in the surrounding tissues and condylomas can reappear.
Prevention of infection
There are two vaccines: the bivalent vaccine against HPV 16 and 18 and the quadrivalent vaccine against HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18. The vaccine is recommended for all girls 14 years of age and older.
Vaccination does not protect against all types of HPV. Therefore, all women between the ages of 25 and 65, even if vaccinated, are advised to have regular Pap tests.
Timely detection and complete removal of condylomas reduces the risk of disease. Using condoms to prevent the transmission of infection can significantly reduce the risk of contracting this disease. The most promising way to prevent and treat the initial stages of the disease caused by this infection is a specific multivalent vaccine.
Why plantar warts occur and treatment methods
Warts are skin lesions that appear in the form of special round formations protruding 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 causes
There are many varieties of warts, they are divided according to several characteristics:
- Simple. They appear on exposed parts of the body, hands, feet, face and scalp. As a rule, they are not dangerous, but they are not aesthetic and can multiply quickly, affecting large areas of the skin. They are arranged like "families".
- Soles. Their localization is exclusively on the legs. Causes discomfort when walking.
The main cause is human papillomavirus infection, which affects the mucous membranes and skin.
Human papilloma virus
It is one of the most common viruses on Earth. Infection can occur in several ways:
- contact and household (through touch);
- sexual (genital, anal, oral-genital);
- during the birth of a child from a mother.
The period of development of the disease ranges from several weeks to tens of years, this is explained by the fact that the virus may not manifest itself for a long time, but as soon as the immunity weakens a little, growths immediately appear on the skin. on the skin and/or mucous membranes. The main danger of this disease is that certain types of HPV can 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, a doctor's examination is necessary, and not self-medication.
Symptoms and types of foot warts
A plantar wart appears as a callus-like thickening with a stratum corneum layer of skin. It interferes with walking and causes pain. The passive state is characterized by slow reproduction without reaching the stratum corneum, so this condition does not manifest itself externally.
The active state is characterized by the fact that the virus develops rapidly and, having risen to the upper layers of the epidermis, manifests itself in many symptoms. Plantar warts are also called prickly warts, chicken warts. The virus enters the skin through the outer layer of the skin after cuts and scrapes:
- First, a small yellowish-gray papule with an uneven surface appears.
- 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 blood vessels are formed there, which cause bleeding when the wart is hit.
Removal of plantar warts
A plantar wart should be treated if:
- There are painful sensations.
- The wart is bleeding.
- It had stains on it.
- The wart grows rapidly.
There are many treatment methods. One of them is cryodestruction. The meaning of the method is that the wart is exposed to liquid nitrogen at a temperature of minus 196 degrees. The area affected by the virus is frozen and the wart is removed.
A common and aggressive method of exposure is used. In 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, the effectiveness of cryodestruction is greatly reduced, so the meaning of such an operation also disappears.
After removing a plantar wart with liquid nitrogen, you should follow several recommendations:
- the blister remaining at the site of the wart cannot be opened;
- to avoid mechanical damage, use a sterile bandage instead of a plaster;
- Treat the affected area twice a day with 2% salicylic alcohol;
- try to keep water out of the affected area.
Another method is laser coagulation. This is one of the most common ways to remove warts. Most laser systems have a special cooling system. Thus, the procedure takes place with minimal discomfort and prevents inflammation, as the laser has antiseptic properties. In addition, it is a non-contact method.
There are several ways:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. Treatment in this case is carried out using infrared light. The method is 70% effective, but the downside is that healthy tissues can also be damaged.
- Erbium laser. This treatment method uses a shorter wavelength, which reduces the chance of scarring after surgery. The efficiency is usually 75%.
- Pulsed dye laser. With this method of exposure, the primary destruction of the dilated capillaries of warts and stimulation of the immune system, which contributes to effective healing. The effectiveness of the treatment reaches 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 ingress.
Another way to remove warts is electrocoagulation. In this case, a high-frequency current is applied to the wart. Treatment is performed under local anesthesia. When the wart is exposed to high temperature, the cells affected by the papillomavirus evaporate. Another advantage of this method is that vascular cauterization prevents bleeding. After the operation, a crust forms on the affected skin area, which disappears within 7-10 days.
Plantar warts can be treated with direct surgery. In this case, excision is performed under local anesthesia, then sutures are placed. After the operation, the doctor will prescribe certain recommendations. Therefore, it is recommended not to allow water and soap to enter the affected area, not to tear off the formed crust, and to treat the affected area with an antiseptic for the first 7-10 days.
There are certain contraindications for each type of surgery. Therefore, the operation will be impossible if:
- pregnancy;
- diabetes;
- malignant tumors in the body;
- infection and inflammation around the wart;
- exacerbation of herpes;
- Fever.
If you have high blood pressure, the procedure should also be postponed.
Wart treatment without surgery
People often ask how to remove a plantar wart without surgery. To do this, you can use pharmaceutical ointments and solutions.
Basically, these ointments have the following effects:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antiseptic;
- immunomodulating;
- anti-virus;
- 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 relapse.
It is important that these products are used to treat single and shallow plantar warts. In addition, if any side effects occur, the drug should be washed off with plenty of warm water and seek medical attention immediately.
So, it is possible to cure warts, there are many ways to do it, but it should not be done 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 indicates contraindications.
Treatment of papillomas on the body
Hardware methods
Modern hardware methods of treating papillomas allow you to get rid of them and prevent the recurrence of the disease. The most commonly used methods are:
- Cryodestruction is the destruction of growths by exposing them to low temperatures.
- Electrocoagulation is the cauterization of formations with electric current, the strength and frequency of which are selected depending on the size, type and density of the papilloma.
- Laser removal. The type of effect is clear from the name. The procedure lasts no longer than 15 minutes and helps to get rid of unpleasant tumors forever.
Drug treatment
Medicines used include fireweed, castor oil, lapis lazuli, Sani Skin and Dermavit preparations.
They have different effectiveness and do not prevent the recurrence of the disease. The main disadvantage of drug treatment of papillomas is the frequent development of allergic reactions.
Prevention of papillomas
To prevent the appearance of growths and infection with the human papillomavirus, you should:
- Use barrier contraception during intercourse.
- Follow the rules of personal hygiene and use only individual towels, soap and a toothbrush.
- Remember to wear rubber shoes when visiting public baths.
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.