Title: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Definition: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Is A Viral Infection That's Passed Between People Through
Title: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Definition: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Is A Viral Infection That's Passed Between People Through
Title: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Definition: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Is A Viral Infection That's Passed Between People Through
DEFINITION:
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a viral infection that’s passed between people through
skin-to-skin contact. There are over 100 varieties of HPV, more than 40 of which are
passed through sexual contact and can affect your genitals, mouth, or throat.
Anyone who’s had sexual skin-to-skin contact is at risk for HPV infection. Other factors
that may put someone at an increased risk for HPV infection include:
CAUSE:
The virus that causes HPV infection is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Most
people get a genital HPV infection through direct sexual contact, including vaginal, anal,
and oral sex. Because HPV is a skin-to-skin infection, intercourse isn’t required for
transmission to occur. Many people have HPV and don’t even know it, which means you
can still contract it even if your partner doesn’t have any symptoms.
In rare cases, a mother who has HPV can transmit the virus to her baby during delivery.
When this happens, the child may develop a condition called recurrent respiratory
papillomatosis where they develop HPV-related warts inside their throat or airways.
High-risk forms of HPV often don’t cause symptoms until they’ve progressed to cancer.
Cervical cancer is the most common type of HPV-related cancer. Other types of cancer
are much rarer. They include:
Anal cancer.
Penile cancer.
Throat cancer.
Vaginal cancer.
Vulvar cancer.
DIAGNOSTIC TEST:
A healthcare provider will typically be able to diagnose genital warts just by looking.
High-risk forms of HPV don’t cause symptoms, which means you’ll likely learn about an
infection through a routine Pap smear or HPV test.
Pap smear: A Pap smear screens for cervical cancer and precancerous cells that
may become cancer (cervical dysplasia) if left untreated. Cervical cancer is
almost always caused by high-risk HPV.
HPV test: HPV tests can detect the high-risk strains of the virus that may lead to
cervical cancer if left untreated. There aren’t any U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)-approved tests for identifying HPV on the vulva, vagina,
penis, scrotum, rectum or anus. HPV-related cancers on these body parts are
much less common than cervical cancer.
Other procedures that can detect abnormal cells likely caused by an HPV infection
include:
Treatments can’t rid your body of the virus. They can remove any visible warts on your
genitals and abnormal cells in your cervix. Treatments may include:
Cryosurgery: Freezing warts or destroying abnormal cells with liquid nitrogen.
Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP): Using a special wire loop to
remove warts or abnormal cells on your cervix.
Electrocautery: Burning warts off with an electrical current.
Laser therapy: Using an intense light to destroy warts or any abnormal cells.
Cold knife cone biopsy (conization): Removing a cone-shaped piece of cervical
tissue that contains abnormal cells.
Prescription cream: Applying medicated cream directly to your warts to destroy
them. These creams may include imiquimod (Aldara®) and podofilox
(Condylox®).
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA): Applying a chemical treatment that burns off warts.
PREVENTION:
The easiest ways to prevent HPV are to use condoms and to practice safe sex.
Condoms can help protect you against HPV, but they do not cover all the skin
around your genitals, so you're not fully protected.
The CDC recommends the HPV vaccine for boys and girls ages 11 or 12. Two doses of the
vaccine are given at least six months apart. Women and men ages 15 to 26 can also get
vaccinated on a three-dose schedule.
To prevent health problems associated with HPV, be sure to get regular health
checkups, screenings, and Pap smears.
REFERENCES:
Amber Erickson Gabbey. (2018, December 18). Everything you Need to Know About
Human Papillomavirus Infection. Healthline; Healthline Media.
https://www.healthline.com/health/human-papillomavirus-infection
https://nyulangone.org/conditions/human-papillomavirus/types
QUIZ
Gardasil 9 vaccine 1. It is a vaccine used in preventing genital warts and cancers caused
by HPV.
2. In rare cases, a mother who has HPV can transmit the virus to
her baby during delivery. When this happens, the child may develop a condition called
recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
The easiest ways to prevent HPV are to use 3. condoms and
4. to practice safe sex.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) 5. It is a viral infection that’s passed between people
through skin-to-skin contact and according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) it is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI)
True or False
TRUE 6. Cervical cancer is the most common type of HPV-related cancer.
FALSE 7. Prostate cancer is one of the example of HPV-related cancer.
ENUMERATION
8-9 GIVE THE TWO TYPES OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS
Low-Risk Human Papillomavirus
High-Risk Human Papillomavirus
10- GIVE ATLEAST ONE DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON PATIENT INFECTED WITH HPV
Pap smear, HPV test, Colposcopy, Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA)