Human papillomavirus (HPV) leads to an increase in the epithelium of the skin, the mucous membranes of the anogenital region, and the upper respiratory tract. It affects the internal organs less frequently - esophagus, bronchi, rectum, bladder. As a result of the activity of the virus, various forms of neoplasms are formed. Some of them are quite benign in nature, and some carry the risk of cancer. In what cases does the papilloma require special attention and removal? The article will talk about this.
The route of infection
The infection occurs after contact with a virus carrier and with a sick person or animal. It is worth noting that an infected person may be completely absent from clinical manifestations of papillomatosis. Sometimes you don't even know about your infection. The virus enters the human body through micro-damage to the skin or mucous membranes. A single virus particle is sufficient for the infectious process to develop. The virus is able to maintain its viability in the environment. This is why self-infection is possible during hygiene procedures and in everyday life (shaving, epilation, combing, self-injection). Baths, swimming pools, gyms, etc. are the main public breeding grounds for the spread of infections. , mass illnesses were registered among schoolchildren. The newborn can become a carrier of the human papillomavirus infection as it passes through the mother's birth canal.
Types of HPV
Currently, scientists have identified about 180 types of HPV, 29 of which are considered to be oncogenes. Depending on the oncogenic potential, they are divided into viruses:
- low oncoactivity (types 6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, 70, 72, 81),
- average degree of oncoactivity (types 26, 31, 33, 35, 51, 52, 53, 58, 66)
- high oncoactivity (16, 18, 39, 45, 56, 59, 68, 73, 82).
According to the latest data, one or another strain of human papillomavirus is 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 provoke the development of the disease?
Immunity and papilloma
Why does the virus disappear from the body of some people without a trace, others lead to lifelong consequences, and others lead to the development of papillomas? HPV is an infection that can quite suppress the immune system. In healthy people and virus carriers, a strong immune system is observed that suppresses the growth of the foreign agent. The special role of cellular immunity has been confirmed. It inhibits the survival of the virus at its 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's defenses are at such a high level, and then latent HPV infection turns into an open (manifest) form. Papilloma develops due to factors such as:
- sex life, frequent change of partners;
- contact with a partner with a history of genital papillomatosis;
- the presence of co-occurring sexually transmitted infections;
- immunodeficiency conditions in vitamin deficiency, atopic dermatitis, pregnancy, AIDS;
- frequent colds and SARS;
- hormonal contraception;
- autoimmune disease;
- smoking and alcohol.
Damaged or prone to inflammation of the skin becomes a powerful provocative factor, its protective function ceases. Therefore, people with inflammatory skin diseases (pimples, rashes), eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis are at risk.
Respiratory papillomatosis
Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is the most common benign tumor of the larynx. In the airways, papilloma occurs in any area - from the nasopharynx to the lung parenchyma. But it most often attacks the lining of the larynx. The severity of the disease is determined by the presence of growths in the narrowest area, which contributes to respiratory obstruction, all the way to suffocation. It is considered a mandatory cancer prevention in adults due to a high degree of malignancy (degeneration into a malignancy). The primary symptom of the disease is usually hoarseness, which then leads to a loss of volume. The patient is still able to speak in a whisper. In the first stage, the manifestation of respiratory papillomatosis is sometimes confused with acute laryngitis. Therefore, it is impossible to prescribe treatment without endoscopic examination. Various physiotherapy procedures in the larynx lead to rapid growth of papilloma.
Baby warts
Warts are benign epidermal growths that are encountered mainly by children and adolescents. They develop on the face, hands, neck, often causing many emotional problems for their master. However, more than 70% of these types of papillomas disappear without a trace within 1. 5-2 years. Therefore, doctors only use their removal in extreme cases, as by the end of the hormonal changes, it is very likely that the body will be able to cope with HPV infection on its own. Additional risk factors in childhood include frequent stress related to learning and taking exams, overload, lack of sleep, malnutrition, sensitive skin in infants, and acne in adolescents.
Is it necessary to remove papillomas on the skin
Some neoplasms degenerate into malignancies. This process cannot be ignored if one is attentive to oneself. An alarm is required if any of the symptoms are detected:
- the size and configuration of the papilloma changes (it grows rapidly, the edges blur, further growths and seals are formed);
- the color of the neoplasm changes towards darkening;
- the inflammatory process is interconnected, the skin flakes, cracks, secretions leak;
- pain appears.
All of the above refer to the removal of growths. It is also advisable to resort to a radical problem-solving method if the papilloma is located in an area accessible to daily injuries (neck, armpits, waist, etc. ). Constant grazing and rubbing can start oncological processes and also contribute to the entry of pathogenic microorganisms.
Methods of tumor removal
Destructive methods for treating skin growths can be divided into:
- chemicals (80-90% trichloroacetic acid and other drugs);
- physical (plasma coagulation, cryodestruction, laser therapy, electrosurgery).
If removal is required in adolescents or pregnant women, only laser therapy is used. The use of topical antiviral and immunomodulatory agents is recommended after disposal.
However, the main method of eliminating laryngeal papillomas is endolaryngeal surgery under anesthesia, which is performed with microscopes or a laser laser, after which stable remission is recorded in only one-third of patients. In practice, a combined approach is used: additional cryodestruction (with the local form of the disease) is prescribed, and local anticancer drugs are prescribed. The most common is inhalation with a special solution.