Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a member of a group of viruses in the genus Papillomavirus that can infect humans and cause changes in cells leading to abnormal tissue growth. Infection with certain types of HPV can increase the risk of developing some types of cancer. Certain strains of HPV can be sexually transmitted. You can find more HPV warts information at Health-Quick.com.
More than 100 strains of HPV have been identified. Most are harmless. Some can produce common skin warts on the hands and feet. About 30 strains are spread through sexual contact; some can cause visible genital warts, while others can cause cervical cancer and other genital cancers.
HPV is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is said to be the cause of 99% of both cervical and prostate cancers. It is estimated that 80% of sexually active adults have been infected with one or more genital HPV strains at some time.[1] The vast majority of infected people suffer no ill effects and never even know that they have been infected, but may be able to infect others.
A highly promising vaccine for HPV, with a success rate of 100%, was approved by the FDA on June 8, 2006. It will only benefit women who were not infected with HPV, although the original researchers hope to change this. Researchers are currently looking into creating a vaccine for men and have hopes to completely erradicate the virus. For women who are already sexually active, health authorities recommend an annual pap smear to detect any early signs of cervical cancer, the only form of cancer in which 100% of cases are caused by a virus.
Some strains of HPV, called cutaneous strains, (e.g., HPV 1) cause common skin warts. They are most commonly found on the hands and the feet. These strains of HPV do not cause genital warts.
Plantar Warts: Plantar warts are found on the soles of the feet. Subungual or periungual warts: Warts forming under the fingernail (subungual) and around the fingernail or on the cuticle (periungual) are a subtype of the common skin wart. They may be more difficult to cure than warts in other locations.
Flat Warts: Flat warts are most commonly found on the face or forehead, and are most common in children and teens.
Genital warts (condylomata acuminata or venereal warts) are the most easily recognised sign of genital HPV infection. Of the multiple strains of genital HPV, strains 6, 11, 30, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52, and 54 can cause genital warts (Gearhart et al, 2004). Most people who acquire those strains never develop warts or any other symptoms.
It is important to note that the strains of HPV that can cause genital warts are NOT the same ones that can cause cervical cancer. These strains are called low-risk types.
About 15 strains of HPV (including 16, 18, and 31) are called high-risk types because they can cause cervical cancer, anal cancer, vulvar cancer, head and neck cancers, nonmelanoma skin cancers, and (rarely) penile cancer. High-risk types of HPV can cause intraepithelial neoplasias, or abnormal and precancerous cell growth, in the vulva and cervix, which can progress to cancer. These tumours often have HPV viral sequences integrated into the cellular DNA. Some of the genes encoded by these viruses are known to act as oncogenes. The viral E6 protein from high-risk HPV types binds to and causes the degradation of the cellular protein p53 while the high-risk E7 protein interferes with the retinoblastoma protein.
A history of HPV infection is believed to be a prerequisite for the development of cervical cancer; according to the American Cancer Society, women with no history of the virus do not develop this type of cancer. However, most HPV infections do not progress to cervical cancer. Because the process of transforming normal cervical cells into cancerous ones is slow, cancer occurs in people who have been infected with HPV for a long time, usually over a decade (Greenblatt, 2005; Sinal and Woods, 2005).
High-risk HPV types 16 and 18 are together responsible for over 70% of cervical cancer cases (Baseman and Koutsky, 2005; Cohen, 2005). Type 16 causes 41 to 54% of cervical cancers (Noel et al., 2001; Baseman and Koutsky, 2005) and is also the usual cause of VIN (Edwards et al., 2005) and oropharyngeal cancers (Bolt et al., 2005).
If a woman has cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, or abnormal (possibly precancerous) cervical cells, a Pap smear can detect them. It is particularly important for women who have abnormal cervical cells to undergo colposcopy so that precancerous and cancerous lesions can be detected and treated early.
HPV can also cause laryngeal papillomatosis, or warts in the respiratory tract (Wu et al., 2003; Sinal and Woods, 2005). These warts often recur frequently, may require repetitive surgery (Moore et al., 1999; Sinal and Woods, 2005), may interfere with breathing, and in rare cases can progress to cancer (Moore et al., 1999). HPV types 30 and 40 cause laryngeal carcinoma.
Viral sites may be distributed widely over the pelvic area, and transmission can occur even when there are no visible symptoms; thus, the only sure way to prevent genital HPV infection is to abstain from any contact with the genitals of another.
The American Cancer Society advises that condoms offer only limited protection against HPV. Both Planned Parenthood and the Centers for Disease Control recommend condom use to reduce the risk of HPV, and the latter advises that condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer. Since the virus infects the skin and is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, covering even part of the skin (as with a condom) reduces the opportunity for infection, as the area of contact would be reduced for both partners.
Disclaimer: You should consult with a medical professional regarding any serious medical ailment.
