{"id":2435,"date":"2018-10-13T14:57:13","date_gmt":"2018-10-13T14:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/?p=2435"},"modified":"2023-03-14T09:51:13","modified_gmt":"2023-03-14T09:51:13","slug":"std-series-screening-and-treatment-of-hpv-infections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/std-series-screening-and-treatment-of-hpv-infections\/","title":{"rendered":"STD Series: Screening and Treatment of HPV infections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\n

Table of Contents<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infections<\/strong><\/a>
\n2. Transmission and Symptoms of HPV Infection<\/strong><\/a>
\n3. Types of HPV Infection and Associated Warts<\/strong><\/a>
\n4. Treatment Options for Warts<\/strong><\/a>
\n5. HPV and Cervical Cancer<\/strong><\/a>
\n6. Risk Factors of HPV Associated Cervical Cancer<\/strong><\/a>
\n7. Cervical Cancer Screening Process<\/strong><\/a>
\n8. HPV Vaccine<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Human papillomavirus<\/span> infections are caused by a group of virus called human papillomavirus<\/span> (HPV<\/span>). HPV<\/span> is one of the frequently occurring sexually transmitted infections<\/span>. In the United States, almost 80 million people or 1 in every four individuals are known to carry HPV<\/span> virus. There are almost 100 variants of the virus present and are responsible for infection at different body parts.<\/p>\n

HPV viruses are known to enter the body through several means like a small cut in skin or abrasion, direct skin contact, and direct sexual contact. Most of the cases, there is no visible symptoms for the infected individuals. However, when symptoms develop, warts<\/span> can be seen on different parts of the body depending on the variety of virus involved like<\/p>\n

Genital warts<\/span>– appearing as flat lesions or protrusion on the genital area.
\nCommon warts<\/span>– rough bumps like structure present on hand, elbow or fingers.
\nFlat warts<\/span>– small darker than skin, appeared as small flat or slightly raised structure on face or legs.<\/p>\n

Treatment option for warts<\/strong>
\nWarts<\/span> developed by HPV<\/span> mostly go away if the infected individual is a child, but in general, the virus remains in the body and can reappear in the same area of prior infection or a new place. Medications for warts<\/span> generally involved is direct applications on infected warts<\/span>, although takes a longer time to diminish. Common drugs used for warts<\/span> treatments include
\n\u2022 Salicylic acid- this is the common ingredients which are present in over the counter drugs which is used to remove wart<\/span> layers. However, salicylic acid<\/span> can cause skin irritations sometimes.
\n\u2022 Imiquimod<\/span>– this prescription drug is used to induce an immune response against HPV<\/span>. However, side effects like swelling or redness in the infection area are common side effects.
\n\u2022 Podofilox- this drug is useful for the destruction of wart<\/span> tissues present in the genital areas. Pain and itching are important side effects.
\n\u2022 Trichloroacetic acid- this is used as a chemical treatment to burn warts<\/span> present in genitals, pal or soles and accompanied by mild itching.<\/p>\n

In addition to tropical drugs, warts<\/span> sometimes also removed by surgical procedures, such as-
\n\u2022 Electrocautery- where the infected areas are burned with electrical current.
\n\u2022 Cryotherapy- where freezing methods using liquid nitrogen is utilized.
\n\u2022 Surgical removal of the warts<\/span>
\n\u2022 Laser therapy for the removal of warts<\/span>.<\/p>\n

HPV and Cervical cancer<\/strong>
\nIn addition to warts<\/span> formation, frequent HPV<\/span> infection is known to develop cervical cancer<\/span> in females. As HPV<\/span> is one of the common infections found in the reproductive tract, almost 99% of the cervical cancer<\/span> occurrence can be linked to the presence of HPV<\/span> infection. Among women, cervical cancer<\/span> is the frequently occurring cancer worldwide. HPV<\/span> type 16 and 18 are commonly involved in cervical cancer<\/span> progression. Usually, HPV<\/span> infection gets cleared up by their own, and precancerous<\/span> lesion formation also dissolves. However, if the infection becomes chronic, then in 15-20 years\u2019 time frame the precancerous<\/span> lesion generates cervical cancer<\/span>. However, for women with a weak immune system the time frame is 5-10 years.<\/p>\n

Risk factors of HPV<\/span><\/strong> associated cervical cancer<\/span> and several situations which increase the risk of HPV<\/span> associated cervical cancer<\/span> are
\n\u2022 Presence of multiple sexual partners.
\n\u2022 Use of tobacco
\n\u2022 Immune suppression: HIV<\/span> patients are more prone to get HPV<\/span> infection.
\nSexual intercourse at an early age.<\/p>\n

Cervical cancer screening process<\/strong><\/p>\n

To reduce the mortality rate and detect cervical cancer<\/span> at earliest, screening methods to detect the presence of the HPV<\/span> virus is recommended for the females in the age group of 30-49. There are three different methods used for the screening purpose, such as-
\n\u2022 Conventional methods like PAP test<\/span> and LBC or liquid-based cytology test.4
\n\u2022 Visual identification methods for confirmation of HPV<\/span>.
\n\u2022 Identification of HPV<\/span> patient who got infected by HPV<\/span> types of high risk.<\/p>\n

HPV vaccine<\/strong>
\nIn the United States, HPV<\/span> is known to cause 34000 variants of cancer in both male and females. Nearly, 31000 cases are preventable by the use of HPV vaccine<\/span>. There are three types of vaccines available in the market against HPV<\/span> infection which are Gardasil<\/span>, Gardasil<\/span> 9 and Cervarix<\/span>. These vaccines are capable of preventing infection against HPV<\/span> type 16 and 18 which is responsible for 70% of the occurrence of cervical cancer<\/span>. These vaccines also provide immunity<\/span> against the precancerous<\/span> lesion formation. Gardasil<\/span> and Gardasil<\/span> 9 are also useful for the protection against genital warts<\/span> formation. According to CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span>, it is necessary to administrate two shots of HPV vaccine<\/span> for the young boys and girls aged around 11-12 as a routine application. World health organization<\/span> or WHO recommends HPV<\/span> vaccination to young girls as a mode of precaution against cervical cancer<\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Table of Contents 1. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infections 2. Transmission and Symptoms of HPV Infection 3. Types of HPV Infection and Associated Warts 4. Treatment Options for Warts 5. HPV and Cervical Cancer 6. Risk Factors of HPV Associated Cervical Cancer 7. Cervical Cancer Screening Process 8. HPV Vaccine Human papillomavirus infections are caused by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[48],"class_list":["post-2435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-hpv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2435"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2435\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mybiosource.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}