Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes growth of the skin epithelium, mucous membrane of the anogenital region and upper respiratory tract. Less often it affects the internal organs - esophagus, bronchi, rectum, bladder. As a result of the activity of the virus, various forms of neoplasms are formed. Some are quite benign in nature and some carry the threat of cancerous tumors. In what cases does the papilloma require special attention and removal? The article will tell about this.
path of infection
Infection occurs after contact with a virus carrier, as well as with a sick person or animal. It is worth noting that an infected person may completely lack clinical manifestations of papillomatosis. Sometimes she doesn't even know about her infection. The penetration of the virus into the human body occurs through microdamages of the skin or mucous membranes. For the development of an infectious process, single viral particles are enough. The virus can survive in the environment. That is why self-infection is also possible during hygiene procedures and in everyday life (shaving, hair removal, combing the skin, self-injections). Bathrooms, swimming pools, gyms, etc. are considered the main breeding grounds for the transmission of infections. Collective diseases were recorded among schoolchildren. A newborn baby can be a carrier of human papillomavirus infection when passing through its mother's birth canal.
Types of HPV
Currently, scientists have identified about 180 types of HPV, among which 29 strains are considered oncogenic. Depending on the oncogenic potential, they are divided into viruses:
- low degree of oncoactivity (types 6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70, 72, 81),
- mean degree of oncoactivity (types 26, 31, 33, 35, 51, 52, 53, 58, 66)
- a high degree of oncoactivity (16, 18, 39, 45, 56, 59, 68, 73, 82).
According to the latest data, one or more strains of the human papillomavirus can be found in the blood of about 80% of the world's population. However, this does not mean that all infected people have papillomatosis. What factors trigger the development of the disease?
Immunity and papilloma
Why does the virus disappear from the body of some people without a trace, in others it is inconclusive, and in others it leads to the formation of papillomas? HPV is an infection that can suppress the immune system. Healthy people and virus carriers have a strong immune system that suppresses the proliferation of a foreign substance. The special role of cellular immunity has been confirmed. It blocks the persistence of the virus at its own level (the ability to remain active for a long time outside the acute phase) and in some cases contributes to the regression of lesions. Spontaneous regression of papillomatosis occurs within six months. However, not everyone has such a high level of body defense, and then the latent HPV infection turns into an overt (overt) form. Papilloma is formed under the influence of factors such as:
- random sex life, frequent change of partners;
- contact with a partner with a history of genital papillomatosis;
- the presence of concomitant sexually transmitted infections;
- immunodeficiency states in vitamin deficiency, atopic dermatitis, pregnancy, AIDS;
- frequent colds and SARS;
- hormonal contraception;
- autoimmune diseases;
- cigarettes and alcohol.
Damaged or prone to inflammation skin becomes a strong provoking factor, ceases to perform a protective function. Therefore, people with inflammatory skin diseases (pimples, redness), eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis are at risk.
respiratory papillomatosis
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is the most common benign tumor of the larynx. In the respiratory tract, papilloma occurs in any area from the nasopharynx to the lung parenchyma. But most often it attacks the mucous membrane of the larynx. The severity of the disease is determined by the presence of growths in the narrowest space, which contribute to respiratory obstruction, up to asphyxia. In adults, it is considered an obligate precancer due to a high degree of malignancy (degeneration into a malignant tumor). The primary symptom of the disease is usually hoarseness, with subsequent loss of sonority of the voice. The patient continues to speak in a whisper. At the initial stage, the manifestation of respiratory papillomatosis is sometimes confused with acute laryngitis. Therefore, it is impossible to prescribe treatment without an endoscopic examination. Various physiotherapy procedures in the larynx area lead to the rapid growth of the papilloma.
baby warts
Warts are benign epidermal growths mostly encountered by children and adolescents. They develop on the face, hands, neck and often cause many emotional problems to their owners. However, more than 70% of this type of papillomas disappear within 1. 5 - 2 years without a trace. Therefore, doctors resort to its removal only in extreme cases, since with the cessation of hormonal changes it is quite possible that the body will cope with HPV infection on its own. Additional risk factors in childhood are frequent stress associated with studying and passing exams, overwork, lack of sleep, malnutrition, sensitive skin in infants, acne in adolescents.
Is it necessary to remove papillomas on the skin?
Some neoplasms degenerate into malignant ones. If a person takes care of himself, this process cannot be ignored. It is necessary to sound the alarm if one of the symptoms is found:
- papilloma varies in size and configuration (grows quickly, the edges are blurred, additional growths and seals are formed);
- the color of the neoplasm changes towards darkening;
- the inflammatory process joins, the skin exfoliates, cracks, exudate oozes;
- pain appears.
All of the above are indications for the removal of growths. If the papilloma is located in places accessible to everyday injury (on the neck, armpits, lumbar region, etc. ), it is worth resorting to a radical method of solving problems. Continuous grazing and rubbing can initiate the oncological process and also contribute to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms.
Methods for removing neoplasms
Destructive methods of treatment of skin growths are divided into:
- chemical (trichloroacetic acid 80-90% and other drugs);
- physical (plasma coagulation, cryodestruction, laser therapy, electrosurgery).
If removal is expected in adolescents or pregnant women, only laser therapy is used. After destruction, the use of local antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs is indicated.
But the main method of eliminating laryngeal papillomas is endolaryngeal surgery under anesthesia using micro-instruments or a surgical laser, after which stable remission is noted in only a third of patients. In practice, a combined approach is used: additional cryodestruction is performed (with a local form of the disease), local antitumor drugs are prescribed. The most common is inhalation with a special solution.