Human papillomavirus (HPV) affects epithelial cells and has a particle diameter of 55 nm. A special feature is the spread of the epithelium in the skin, as well as the mucous membrane. In the initial stage, the pathogen usually affects the basal cells of the epithelium and penetrates them through microbes. Localized papillomas are usually found on the skin of the neck, armpits, groin and genitals (most often), oral mucosa and nasopharynx.
This virus can exist for years without symptoms. To detect HPV, electron microscopy or molecular hybridization methods are used.
Types of human papillomavirus
In humans, there is HPV, which affects the mucous membranes and skin. Among the number of papillomaviruses, types with low and high carcinogenic risk are distinguished. It has been proven that carcinogenic properties are linked 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 lead to benign or malignant lesions. Some HPV drugs are not carcinogenic. They lead to the appearance of warts and genital warts. The most common are HPV 6 and 11.
HPV oncogenes are those that are at high risk of developing cancerous lesions, especially in the cervix or anus. For the skin, HPV 16 and 18, as well as 5 and 8, which can lead to skin cancer, are more common. The most common form of cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer. But men can also be infected with the papilloma virus, which in the worst cases causes cancer of the penis or anus.
Women often get HPV 16 - this is a form where a parasite in the vagina is seen, i. e. e. outside the cell chromosome (benign). HPV 18 is at high risk of developing cancer - first benign tumors develop which after some time degenerate into cancer. Virions in this case have tiny sizes (up to 30 nm).
- cervical cancer;
- invasive or pre-invasive oncology;
- genital warts in the urinary tract and genitals.
Features of infection
Human papillomavirus is highly contagious. It is usually transmitted by direct contact, skin-to-skin or mucous-to-mucosal, with an infected person. For a genital infection, this usually occurs during vaginal or oral sex. Having a large number of sexual partners or other sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) increases the risk. Indirect transmission through objects, contaminated clothing or bedding is also possible but is quite rare.
In 7% of cases, infection can be transmitted from mother to child at birth, when the infection is active. The risk increases to 40% if infected with HPV 16 or 18.
Penetrating the epithelium, breaking its integrity, papillomavirus infection promotes the growth of the lower layer of epithelial cells in the form of adenocarcinoma or warts. This form of the disease is contagious and spreads quickly to others. As a general rule, warts and adenocarcinomas do not metastasize and often disappear on their own.
HPV symptoms
The gestation period lasts up to 9 months (on average 3 months). HPV can be present in the body without any obvious symptoms. The virus can go undiagnosed for months or years. Even at this stage it is contagious.
Warts usually appear in groups and multiply when scratched. The two most common types of papillomas are either grayish, hard, raised with a broken surface (common wart) or flat and reddish (flat wart). Warts occur on the soles or heels, grow inward and are therefore often painful.
- Genital warts. Pale or reddish nodules that often appear in groups and appear on the genitals, 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 getting cancer.
- Giant condylomas (Buschke-Levenshtein tumor). They grow into huge formations and destroy the surrounding tissues. In rare cases, they can degenerate and lead to squamous cell carcinoma.
Infection of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract is also possible. The conjunctiva may be affected, resulting in a pink stalk growth.
It is more difficult to diagnose an asymptomatic process that the doctor can only see with the help of auxiliary methods such as acetic acid (causes discoloration of warts) or a microscope.
In addition, the virus can also take up residence in cells without tissue changes. Then we talk about latent infection, that is the presence of germs, but without symptoms. After infection, this phase can last from a few weeks to a few months.
Possible consequences
During infection, viruses enter cells in the digestive tissue of the skin and mucous membranes, settle in the nucleus of cellular structures and multiply there. Usually, such HPV infections go unnoticed and heal on their own without consequences, as the immune system fights well against the pathogen.
However, some types of HPV create skin changes called growths. Possible types are genital warts or adenocarcinomas and papillomas, which can affect, for example, the face, arms or legs.
The resulting tissue changes are mostly benign, but can also degenerate and lead to cancer. For example, cancer can appear decades after HPV infection. Cancer of the female external genitalia (cancer of the throat and vagina), cancer of the anus, cancer of the penis, and cancer of the mouth and throat (tumors of the head and neck) are also possible.
Establishing a diagnosis
Testing for HPV infection is done in women as part of preventive visits to a gynecologist. During a gynecological examination, a smear is taken from the cervix, it is called a Papanicolaou test (cell examination). The resulting material is examined for tissue changes to determine the pre-cancer stage.
In addition, an HPV test can be performed, where cell material from the mucous membrane or tissue sample is tested in a laboratory for specific 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 when combined with a Pap test, and can help detect precursor cancers at an early stage.
If the test is positive, there is no need to worry as infections do not always lead to cancer. Regular examination is recommended to detect tissue changes at an early stage. On the other hand, a negative test result does not indicate whether there was a previous infection that the body was fighting.
For men, there is no preventive examination as the test would be done regularly. If an underlying cancer is present, testing the tumor can determine whether HPV infection is underlying the cancer.
Specialized DNA methods are also used for laboratory analysis, such as real-time PCR. Genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11 are easily detected during a gynecological examination.
How to cure human papillomavirus
In most cases, the disease does not require treatment because it disappears on its own and the viruses are no longer detectable. However, if that is not the case, the infection can last longer and last for months or years.
So far, there are no methods of systemic impact on this virus that could completely destroy it. However, treating existing warts reduces the number of viruses, so in many cases the immune system can fight off the remaining viruses and get rid of them. In some cases, the pathogens survive and can cause the symptoms of the disease again and again.
- Plantar and genital warts can be treated with salicylic acid-based topical medications.
- Cryotherapy is also a procedure often used for HPV. In this case, the wart is burned with cold using liquid nitrogen.
- Lasers or electrodes are equally used methods.
For cancers caused by HPV, treatment is much more difficult. For cervical cancer, it is often advisable to remove the uterus, respectively the upper part of the vagina and the ovaries. This can be supplemented with radiation therapy to rule out the possibility of relapse. Other cancers caused by HPV are most often treated with targeted therapy, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
It should be noted that the operation is not a radical solution, but only solves a cosmetic problem, since after the virus has been removed, the virus can remain in the surrounding tissues and varicose veins can reappear.
Prevention of infection
There are two vaccinations: 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 aged 14 years and older.
Vaccination does not protect against all types of HPV. Therefore, all women between the ages of 25 and 65, even if they are vaccinated, are advised to undergo regular Pap smears.
Timely detection and complete removal of conjunctiva reduces the risk of disease. The effectiveness of using condoms to prevent transmission 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 appear and treatment methods
Warts are skin lesions that appear in the form of special circular formations that protrude 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 come back.
Types and reasons
There are many types of warts; they are classified according to the number of characteristics:
- Simple. They appear on exposed parts of the body, arms, legs, face and scalp. They are usually not dangerous, but they are not aesthetically pleasing and can multiply quickly and affect large areas of the skin. They are arranged as in "families".
- Plants. Their location is on feet only. Causes discomfort when walking.
The main cause is infection with the human papillomavirus, which affects the mucous membranes and skin.
Human papillomavirus
This is one of the most common viruses on the planet. Infection can occur in several ways:
- relationship and housekeeping (with touch);
- sexual (genital, anal, oro-genital);
- during birth from mother to child.
The development period of the disease ranges from a few weeks to tens of years, this is explained by the fact that the virus could not show itself for a long time, but as soon as the immunity becomes a little weaker, growths immediately appear on the skin and/or mucous membranes. The main risk of this disease is that certain types of HPV are very likely to cause the formation of a malignant tumor (cancer of the skin or mucosa). To make sure that the disease does not lead to tumor formation, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a doctor and not to self-medicate.
Symptoms and types of warts on the foot
A plantar wart appears as a callus-like thickening with a horny layer of skin. It interferes with walking and causes pain. The inactive state is characterized by slow reproduction, does not reach the stratum corneum of the epithelium, so this state does not appear externally.
The active state is characterized by the fact that the virus develops rapidly and ascends to the upper layers of the epidermis and manifests itself in numerous symptoms. The plantar wart is also called spinous wart, chicken wart. The virus comes into contact with the skin through cuts and friction in the outer layer of the skin:
- First, a small yellow-gray papule with an uneven surface appears.
- Gradually, the small element becomes dense and acquires a dirty color.
Internally, a plantar wart looks like a fused papilla of different sizes with a pink tint. More capillaries are formed there, which cause bleeding if you get a wart.
Removal of plantar warts
It is worth treating a plantar wart if:
- There are painful feelings.
- The wart is bleeding.
- There were stains on it.
- The wart quickly increases in size.
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 infected area is frozen and the wart removed.
A routine and aggressive method of exposure is used. With 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 freezing is significantly reduced, and the meaning of such an operation disappears accordingly.
After you have removed a plantar wart using liquid nitrogen, you should follow some recommendations:
- the cyst remaining at the site of the wart cannot be opened;
- to avoid mechanical damage, use a sterile bandage rather than a patch;
- Treat the affected area with salicylic alcohol 2% twice a day;
- try to prevent water from entering the affected area.
Another method is laser coagulation. This is one of the most common methods of wart removal. Most laser systems are equipped with a special cooling system. Thus, the operation is carried out with minimal discomfort and does not allow swelling, as the laser has antiseptic properties. Moreover, it is a non-contact method.
There are several ways:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) solvent. Treatment in this case takes place with infrared light. The method is 70% effective, but the downside is that healthy tissue can also be damaged.
- Erbium laser. This treatment method uses a shorter wavelength, which reduces the chance of post-operative scarring. Efficiency is typically 75%.
- Pulsed dye laser. With this method of exposure, there is primarily the destruction of dilated capillaries in the wart and the stimulation of the immune system, which contributes to effective healing. The success rate of treatment is about 95%.
After laser treatment, a crust forms on the affected area, which disappears on its own within seven to ten days. Recommendations for this treatment method are the same as after exposure to nitrogen - avoid mechanical damage and ingress of water.
The next way to remove warts is electrocoagulation. In this case, a high frequency current is applied to the wart. Treatment is performed under local anesthesia. Exposing the wart to high temperatures leads to the evaporation of cells affected by the papilloma virus. Another advantage of this method is that the cauterization of blood vessels prevents bleeding. After surgery, a crust forms on the affected area of the skin, which disappears within 7 to 10 days.
A plantar wart can be treated with direct surgery. In this case, excision is performed under local anesthesia, then sutures are applied. After the operation, the doctor will prescribe certain recommendations. Therefore, it is recommended to prevent water and soap from entering the affected area, not to tear off the resulting crust and to treat the affected area with an antiseptic during the first 7-10 days.
For each type of operation there are certain contraindications. Thus, it will be impossible to perform the operation if the following occurs:
- Pregnancy;
- diabetes;
- malignant tumors in the body;
- infection and inflammation around the wart;
- exacerbation of herpes;
- elevated temperature.
If your blood pressure is high, the procedure should also be postponed.
Treatment of warts without surgery
People often wonder 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;
- disinfectant;
- immunosuppressive;
- antiviral;
- antifungal medicine.
In addition, it may contain vitamin E, which also has a positive effect on treatment, as vitamins generally strengthen the body and reduce the risk of relapse.
So, it is possible to cure warts, there are many ways to do this, but you should not do this without consulting a doctor first, so as not to harm your health. In addition, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate if the doctor prescribes contraindications.
Treatment of papillomas on the body
Hardware methods
Modern mechanical methods of treating papillomas make it possible to get rid of them and prevent the disease from recurring. The most common methods are:
- Cryoablation is the destruction of growths by exposing them to low temperatures.
- Electrocoagulation is the cauterization of formations with an electric current, its intensity and frequency are selected according to the size, type and density of the papilloma.
- Laser removal. The type of stroke is clear from the name. The procedure takes no more than 15 minutes and helps to get rid of unpleasant growths forever.
Medical treatment
Among the remedies used are celandine, castor oil, lapis pencil, Sani Skin and Dermavit preparations.
They show different effects and do not prevent the recurrence of the disease. The main disadvantage of drug treatment for papillomas is the frequent development of allergic reactions.
Prevention of papillomas
To avoid the appearance of growths and to avoid infection with human papillomavirus, you should:
- Use barrier contraception during intercourse.
- Follow the rules of personal hygiene and use only individual towels, soap and toothbrushes.
- When visiting public baths, do not neglect to wear rubber shoes.
You should also normalize your daily life, eat a healthy diet, stop bad habits and avoid stressful situations. These factors are not the cause of the disease, but can cause its development if the virus is already present in the body.