The human papilloma virus is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases.It is unlikely that there is a person who has never heard of him, because today, according to the latest data, 12% of the world's population (this is about 660 million people) are infected with HPV.
The situation is quite falling under the definition of an epidemic.It is for this reason that we will figure out what HPV is, how it is manifested and what can be dangerous.
What is HPV?
It is worth noting that viruses are wandering genes, they have a kind of intelligence.Academician Koznacheev at one time said that about two tons of viral-bacterial-grip “live mass” passes through the human body throughout his life.All these processes, of course, affect the work of genes.
The infection caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) is detected at least once in a life in most sexually active people.The highest prevalence is observed in women aged 20 to 24 years and men from 25 to 29 years.Among the reasons affecting the spread of HPV include socio-economic, behavioral and medical and hygienic factors.
How HPV is manifested
HPV (the Papillomaviridae family) causes damage to the skin and mucous membrane of a person.At the same time, their immune barrier is inferior, which ultimately leads to an increase in the inflammatory process.In other words, getting into the body, the virus causes the growth of inferior cells that is not controlled by the immune system, which is clearly manifested in the form of papillomas, warts, and candyl on the skin.Another “focus” of the manifestation of this virus is the uterus.This organ is a kind of “exhaust pipe” in the body, since it serves as a direct indicator of the problems existing in the body (if any, the process of conception is impossible or difficult).The human papilloma virus affects the uterine mucosa and can cause oncology.
Types of HPV
The human papilloma virus can be divided into two categories - low oncogenic risk and high oncogenic risk.In most cases, with an infection caused by HPV low risk (1, 2, 3 and 4 types), the body copes on its own due to strong immunity.In rare cases, this type of infection causes the appearance of warts, benign papillomas, precancerous lesions and even cancer.In turn, HPVs are considered 16 and 18 of types to be biological carcinogens for cervical cancer, vulva, vagina, penis, anus and oropharynx.
Depending on the manifestations of HPV infection on the genitals, latent, subclinical and clinical forms are distinguished:
- The latent form of HPV infection, despite the presence of DNA of the virus, is not accompanied by morphological changes in the affected tissue.It is possible to determine the asymptomatic presence of this type of infection using molecular biological methods, for which it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the epithelium of the cervix, vagina and vulva.With this form, specific treatment is not required.
- Subclinical forms of HPV infection (which occur, as a rule, asymptomatic) can be determined in colposcopy and cytological or histological examination.Most of the vaginal flat vagina remains asymptomatic, but often they can cause itching, vaginal discharge or smearing discharge after intercourse.
- The clinical form of infection, which the doctors most often have to face, manifests itself mainly in the form of warts and papillary formations that occur, as a rule, in places that are injured in sexual contacts.Their appearance and further relapses are associated with the weakening of general and local immunity.An important nuance is that from the moment of infection to the appearance of warts can pass from several weeks to several years.The average time between infection and their appearance is 11-12 months in men and up to six months-in young women.
Cervical cancer - how dangerous is it?
To understand how common and dangerous this disease is, it is enough to study the numbers.About 530 thousand cases of cervical cancer (RSM) are recorded annually in the world - it is in fourth place in the world in the prevalence of cancer in women.If we consider the structure of mortality in women under 45 years old, the death of cervical cancer is in the first place.
How can I become infected with HPV?
The most common way of infection is vaginal and oral sexual contacts, including without penetration.
Even one -time contact with a probability of 80% leads to infection.It is also possible to become infected with oral sexual contact.A child can get a virus from a mother during childbirth.
Girls who have not reached puberty are most at risk.
The specificity of the virus is such that most men and women are infected at the beginning of sexual activity, and some are infected repeatedly.
Is infection always the disease?
In a group of people under 30 years of 90% of cases, infection ends with an independent cure.The remaining 10% pass into the chronic stage, which can further go into cervical cancer.This process is very stretched in time: from the moment of infection to the development of oncology, 5-20 years pass.And cancer does not occur “suddenly”, it is preceded by precancerous diseases.Thus, with a careful attitude to your health, the disease can be warned or identified in the early stages.
Cervical cancer in the first stages may not appear symptomatically.Therefore, it is very important to regularly visit the gynecologist and conduct all recommended examinations.Extremely carefully every woman should be treated with bloody discharge, discharge with an unpleasant odor, pain in the lower abdomen.
How is HPV and RSM diagnosed?
The diagnostic system is very developed today and allows you to achieve high accuracy in the early stages.First of all, screening tests are used, including a cytological examination of the cervix, tests for HPV high oncogenic risk, and expanded colposcopy.
It is recommended to do the annual screening of the cervix to all women from 21 to 69 years old.Cytological research for women from 21 to 29 years old is carried out every 3 years, and from 30 to 69 years - every 5 years.HPV testing is carried out as prescribed by a doctor based on the results of the strokes.
Prevention and treatment of HPV
It is better to prevent any disease than to treat - and in the case of HPV, doctors and patients have all the possibilities for this.As primary prevention today, vaccination can be recommended.The importance of this vaccination is at least evidenced by the fact that in many countries it is included in the national vaccination calendar.Moreover, they make it to all children - both girls and boys.And the experience of such vaccination has already been accumulated, there is data on effectiveness.In particular, the Australian Minister of Health said that by 2020, Australia will become the first country in the world with zero cervical cancer, precisely due to mass vaccination since 2007.
Like other viruses, HPV can be removed using various immunostimulating products, such as colostrum, cat claw, shark liver fat, as well as stimulate the body with various microelements - calcium, magnesium, iodine, zinc, selenium, iron.These trace elements enhance immunity and favorably affect the body's protection from HPV.There is an statement that in the event of HPV in the body, a matrix zone is formed (the first papilloma that arose under the influence of the virus), and if it is burned and removed, and the probability of the appearance of new ones is noticeably reduced.With a recurrent course of the disease, it is recommended to use systemic immunomodulating agents, in particular interferons.