Human papillomaviruses (HPV) cause benign and malignant hyperproliferative disease. A woman infected with HPV 16 (a high risk HPV)
has a 200-fold increased risk for the development of cervical cancer while one infected with HPV 6 (a low risk HPV) has a 10-fold increased risk. Notably, HPV 6 is the causative agent of the most prevalent [...]
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant etiologic agent in lower female genital tract neoplasia. Novel interactions with other co-carcinogens and/or immuno-deficiency lead to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, both the lack of adequate animal models and prospective clinical trials are impediments to the development of effective anti-HPV therapies and prevent a thorough understanding of [...]
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected over 33 million people worldwide leading to immune suppression from the selective depletion of CD4+ T cells. This lack of immunity results in numerous opportunistic infections with over 50% of the HIV-infected individuals developing pathology involving the oral cavity. Among the pathogens responsible for oral disease in HIV+ patients [...]
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infections represent the most common viral sexually transmitted disease in the United States. These functions cause conditions that include anogenital warts and cervical dysplasias. These diseases can spontaneously regress but the immunologic mechanisms that contribute to the regression are poorly characterized. The experiments in animal models strongly suggest that papillomavirus-associated diseases [...]
The human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are associated with specific human cancers, most notably human cervical cancer. More than 70 different HPVs have now been described and approximately 25 of these are associated with lesions of the anogenital tract. These anogenital associated HPVs can be further subdivided into two groups on the basis of the clinical lesions [...]
Human papillomaviruses (primarily HPV 16 and 18) play a central role in the development of in situ and invasive cervical cancer. Based on this observation and the well-recognized shortcomings of Pap smears, several groups have examined the use of HPV DNA testing as an adjunct to cytologic screening and found it to be cost effective. [...]
The incidence of condylomata acuminata in children seems to be increasing, paralleling a rising incidence reported in adults. This article reviews condylomata acuminata in children. The etiologic agent is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes soft, clustered, papillomatous growths of various sizes and shapes seen on moist mucosal surfaces, most frequently around the genital and [...]
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitteddisease in the United States. It is also harder to understand thanother STDs. It is actually a group of common viruses which cause wartson different parts of the body. There are particular strains of thatcause genital warts and [...]
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a disease caused by a pathogen(i.e., a disease-causing virus, bacterium, parasite, fungus) that isspread from person to person primarily through sexual contact. STDs canbe painful, irritating, debilitating, and life threatening.
STDs occur most commonly in sexually active teenagers and young adults,especially those with multiple sex partners. An estimated 200 to 400million people worldwide are affected¡ªrepresenting men and women ofall economic classes, including about 70 million in the United States.Generally, STD incidence has declined in the United States over thepast 15 years, although rates among certain populations, including menwho have sex with men, have increased.
Most STDs cause relatively harmless disease, producing few symptoms orno symptoms. However, some produce persistent asymptomatic or minimallysymptomatic disease (e.g., chlamydia). Some people carry the diseasefor days or weeks, while others carry the disease for longer periods,even for life. During this time, an infected individual, or carrier,can spread disease.
In persistent infection, the pathogen evades detection by the immunesystem and remains fairly inactive, causing no overt disease. Thisinactivity is called latency. However, certain triggers (e.g., stress,immune suppression, injury) can reactivate latent pathogens. In somecases, reactivated disease is asymptomatic (e.g., chlamydia); inothers, overt (e.g., genital herpes); and in still others, severe andeven fatal (e.g., HIV/AIDS).
Complications of STD infection include pelvic inflammatory disease(PID) and cervicitis (inflammation of the cervix) in women, urethritis(inflammation of the urethra) and prostatitis (inflammation of theprostate) in men, and fertility and reproductive system problems inboth sexes.
Possible consequences to a child infected by his or her mother, whilein the womb or during birth, include stillbirth, blindness, andpermanent neurological damage, depending on the disease.
A person infected with an STD is more likely to become infected withHIV, and a person infected with HIV and another STD is more likely totransmit HIV.
Viral STDs, such as genital herpes (HSV) and human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV), cannot be cured, but symptoms can be managed withmedication. Bacterial STDs, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, can becured with antibiotics. Fungal (e.g., vaginal yeast infection) andparasitic (e.g., trichomoniasis) diseases can be cured with antifungaland antihelminthic agents, respectively. Early diagnosis and treatmentincrease the chances for cure.
The only sure way to avoid becoming infected with an STD is monogamywith an uninfected partner. It is important for partners to discusstheir sexual and STD history before having sex. Prevention is possibleonly if sexually active individuals understand STDs and how they arespread.
The risk for transmission is dramatically reduced with the use ofcondoms. The following behaviors and conditions can increase the riskfor STDs:
Engaging in sexual activity when either partner has unhealed lesions (e.g., genital herpes sores, genital warts)
Enema or rectal douching before rectal intercourse
Rectal or vaginal irritation or infection
Sexual activity that may damage the mucosal lining of the vagina or rectum
Tampon use (Tampons can cause vaginal dryness and cellular abnormalities. Sanitary napkins, either
disposable or washable cotton pads, are recommended.)
Vaginal dryness (Water-based lubricant is recommended.)
Themedical term for warts in the genital area is condyloma acuminatum. Itis usually spread by genital to genital contact. This can includepenile penetration, but skin to skin contact is all that is necessary.It can also spread within the genital area after contact; anal lesionsare sometimes found in women and men who have had no anal intercourse.Infection after oral sex is rare but has been reported (in some caseslesions were found on vocal cords). Warts on the hand or foot are adifferent strain of and are not transmissible to someone¡¯s genitals.
Symptons
The incubation period is one month to many years.
Raised ”warty” appearing tumors on the genitals
Raised, flesh colored lesions
Genital lesions: Genital sores (female), Genital sores (male), Anal warts
Cauliflower-like appearing growths around the anus or female genitalia
Increased dampness or moisture in the area of the growths
Itching of the penis, scrotum, anal area, or a vulvar itch
Increased vaginal discharge
Abnormal vaginal bleeding (not associated with a menstrual period) after sexual intercourse
Signs and tests:
A genital examination reveals flesh-colored to white, flat orraised, single or clustered lesions anywhere on the externalgenitalia. In women, a pelvic examination may reveal growths on thevaginal walls or the cervix. Magnification (colposcopy) may be usedto see lesions invisible to the naked eye. The tissue of the vagina and cervix may be treated with acetic acid to make the warts visible.
Additional tests for women:
A Pap smear may note changes associated with HPV. A colposcopy maybe done to see either external or internal genital lesions which areinvisible to the naked eye.
Additional Information for Women
Most women have no symptoms during the early stage of infection. Inseveral studies that involved college women, nearly half were positivefor HPV. However, only 1% to 2% had visible warts and fewer than 10%remembered ever having warts. If symptoms are present, they may includethe following:
Dry, painless, cauliflower-like warts on the genitals
Genital sores
Increased dampness or moisture in the area of the warts
Chronic itching of the outer lips of the vagina
Increased vaginal discharge
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Warts in other sexually exposed areas, such as the anus or mouth
Abnormal Pap smear results. A Pap smear is an examination, under a microscope, of cells scraped from the cervix.
