Download October 27, 2014 H.P.V.: Basic Facts You Should Know

HPV- Basic Facts You Should Know
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is an infection that causes warts and in some cases can lead to cancer.
There are over 100 different types of of HPV, and more than 40 strains of HPV that affect the genital area.
Oral HPV and genital HPV are included in the many strains of HPV. Oral HPV affects about 7 percent of
the population in the United States. Genital HPV is the most commonly sexually transmitted infection
(STI) in the United States. Most types of HPV do not cause cancer, but HPV can cause cervical, head,
neck, mouth and throat cancer. Generally, HPV goes away on its own, because your body's own immune
system destroys it before it can cause any health problems, including warts or cancer.
Different types of HPV infections can cause warts on different parts of your body. For example, some
strains of HPV cause warts on the face and neck, while other varieties can cause warts on your fingers,
hands and elbows.
 Plantar warts. Plantar warts usually appear on the heels or balls of your feet, where there is more
pressure. They are grainy and hard growths that may cause discomfort or pain.
 Common warts. Common warts are usually on the fingers, hands and elbows, and are rough
raised bumps. They may be painful, and because of their location may result in injury or bleeding.
Often their appearance unsatisfying.
 Genital warts. Genital warts occur commonly in women on the vulva but may also appear on the
cervix, in the vagina or near the anus. They are flat lesions, tiny-stem-like protrusions or small
cauliflower-like bumps.
When men have genital warts they may appear on the penis or scrotum or
around the anus. Usually genital warts do not cause pain or discomfort, but
they may cause itching.
 Flat warts. Flat warts usually occur on your face, neck or areas that have been scratched.
They appear as flat-topped, slightly raised lesions that are darker than your regular skin color.
HPV infections that cause flat warts tend to affect children, adolescents and young adults.
Cervical Cancer
Two specific types of genital HPV cause most cases of cervical cancer, and are believed to also contribute to
cancers of the genitals, anus, mouth and upper respiratory tract. These two strains of HPV usually do not
cause warts, which means that women often do not know that they have been infected. Because the early
stages of cervical cancer usually cause no symptoms it is important for women to have a regular Pap test,
which is designed to detect precancerous changes in the cervix that may lead to cancer.
Oropharyneal Cancer
HPV can cause cancers in the back of the throat, usually in the base of the tongue and tonsils. Symptoms
may include persistent sore throat, earaches, pain when swallowing, enlarged lymph nodes and
unexplained weight loss. In some cases people report no symptoms.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The following tests may be used by your doctor to diagnose genital HPV when genital warts are not visible:
 Vinegar (acetic acid) solution test. Applying a vinegar solution to a genital area infected by
HPV will turn it white, which may help to identify flat lesions that are difficult to see.
 Pap test. The reason your doctor collects a sample of your cells from your vagina and cervix for a
laboratory analysis, is to reveal abnormalities that may lead to cancer.
 DNA test. This test is conducted on a sample of cells taken from your cervix, and can recognize the
DNA of high-risk types of HPV that have been linked to genital cancers.
Treatment
Medications
There are various medications that are used to eliminate warts, and they are usually applied directly to the
lesion and can take many applications to remove the wart.
Some examples of these medications are as follows:
 Salicylic acid. An over-the-counter treatment that contains salicylic acid is used for common warts,
and removes layers of the wart gradually.
 Imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara). This is a prescription cream that may increase your immune
systems ability to fight HPV.
 Podofilox (Condylox). This topical prescription is used to destroy genital wart tissue.
 Trichloroacetic acid. This is a chemical treatment that burns off genital warts.
 Electrocautery. Burning the wart with an electrical current may be a procedure used by your
doctor.
 Cryotherapy. Freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen.
Surgery
 Surgical removal
 Laser surgery
Prevention
It may be difficult to prevent HPV infections of various warts, however there are some measures that can be
taken to decrease the likelihood of contracting some HPV infections and spreading them.
 Plantar warts. Wearing shoes and sandals in public pools and locker rooms may decrease the
risk of contracting HPV that causes plantar warts.
 Common warts. Preventing HPV infections that cause common warts is difficult. You can
prevent the spread of the infection which can lead to the formation of new warts by not biting your
nails and not picking at a wart.
 Genital warts. Several ways to reduce the risk of genital HPV and other HPV-related
lesions are as follows:
Maintaining a mutually exclusive monogamous relationship
Reducing your number of sex partners
Using a latex condom may prevent some but not all genital HPV
transmissions
HPV vaccines.
There are vaccines that protect against genital warts and cervical cancer. Gardasil protects against HPV
strains that cause genital warts. In addition, Gardasil provides protection against the the strains of HPV
that are most likely to cause cervical cancer. Cervarix is a vaccine that protects against cervical cancer but
not genital warts.
Research is ongoing to develop vaccines to protect against more strains of HPV.
References
"Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Oropharyngeal Cancer-Fact Sheet". Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. November 22, 1013.
"HPV Infection". Mayo Clinic. September 16, 2014.