What is HPV? Know its Symptoms and Causes
2024-10-07 00:00:00
HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is the most common sexually transmitted infection that most sexually active men and women come into contact with at some point in their lifetime. When HPV infection starts to occur, it causes the formation of warts on that person's hands, feet, and genitals. Certain types of stress put a person at a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer. HPV is a virus that can be spread from skin to skin through sexual intercourse or other forms can be spread from skin to skin through genital contact. The HPV virus can also be transmitted to the baby during birth, which is transmitted to the baby through infection of the mother's respiratory or genital tract. HPV can infect anyone who is sexually active. Many times, the infected person does not show any signs or symptoms. Although most HPV infections clear up on their own, sometimes they can remain dormant and infect new sexual partners.
Types of HPV
HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses. Each virus in this group is given a number along with its name and type. HPV is named for warts, which can be caused by certain types of HPV viruses. Some types of HPV viruses can also cause cancer. Both men and women can develop oral cancer, throat cancer, and anus or rectum cancer due to HPV infection. Men can also get cancer in the tissues of the penis, known as penile cancer. HPV infection in women can lead to cervical or vaginal or vulvar HPV cancer.
Symptoms of HPV infection
In most cases, the body's immune system clears the HPV infection before a wart forms. When warts do appear, the size and appearance of the wart vary depending on the type of HPV. Its types include the following-
Genital warts-
This rarely causes discomfort or pain, although it may cause itching.
Common Warts-
These are rough and raised warts above the surface of the skin, which usually occur on the hands, fingers, and elbows. In most cases, a wart is usually not a problem apart from its appearance.
Plantar Warts-
These are hard, rough, and granular, and occur on the areas of the sole of the foot where the body's weight is the most. This wart can cause discomfort and pain.
Flat Warts-
This is a raised wart above the normal skin, a deep lesion raised slightly above your regular skin color. They usually appear on the face, neck, or areas that have been scratched.
Causes of HPV infection
HPV infection occurs when the HP virus enters your body through a cut or scratch. HPV is mainly transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. Genital HPV infections can be spread through sexual intercourse and other skin-to-skin contact. Some types of HPV infection that cause sores around the mouth or in the upper respiratory tract are caused by oral sex. A pregnant woman infected with HPV can transmit the virus to her baby while giving birth. In this way, the respiratory tract or genitals of an infant exposed to the virus can become infected.
Risk factors of HPV infection
Multiple sexual partners-
The greater the number of sexual partners, the greater the chance of being exposed to the HPV virus. Having sex with someone who has had sex with more than one sexual partner increases the risk of HPV infection.
Age-
Common warts are often persistent among children, whereas adults usually get plantar warts. It is most likely to start in teenagers and children. Genital warts are more common in teenagers and children.
Weak immune system-
People who have a weak immune system are at a higher risk of HPV infection.
Damaged skin-
People who have a hole or injury on any part of their skin are more prone to common warts.
Individual contact-
Touching another person's wart or touching objects exposed to the HPV virus, such as public bathrooms or swimming pools, can increase the risk of HPV infection.
Treatment methods for HPV
There is no single cure for the HPV virus. However, other health problems caused by HPV can be treated like-
Genital warts-
This can be treated with medicines prescribed by a doctor. If left untreated, a wart can increase in size, number, heal or remain as it is.
Pre-Cervical Cancer Signs-
Women who have regular Pap tests, or follow up on all those things, show signs and symptoms before cancer. In them, it can be treated before cancer.
Other HPV-related cancers-
All of these cancers are also more curable when diagnosed early.
When to go to the doctor?
If you or your child has any type of wart that causes embarrassment, discomfort, or pain, talk to your doctor right away.