Papillomavirus infection: basic information

Papillomavirus infection (venereological condylomatosis) is a group of infectious diseases of a viral nature that alter the growth of tissues and promote the appearance of specific formations on the skin and mucous membranes.

This infection is transmitted from a sick person with direct contact, including during sexual intercourse.

The causative agent of the disease is the human papillomavirus, which, when ingested, undergoes an incubation period of development lasting 1-5 months. It should be noted that the susceptibility to this disease is extremely high, therefore, papillomavirus infection is widespread among the population.

Often the pathogen is in the blood asymptomatic, especially in cases where a person has a strong immune defense. But under certain circumstances, it crashes. This activates the multiplication of viruses in individual parts of the body, there is a specific change in epithelial cells. This leads to the appearance of neoplasms in the form of warts, condyloma or papillomas, which are a characteristic sign of the disease.

It should be noted that there are more than one hundred kinds of human papillomaviruses, but they are conventionally divided into three groups: non-oncogenic, low oncogenic risk viruses and pathogens that exhibit pronounced oncogenic properties. Papillomavirus infection of the genitals is today a special group.

Depending on the type of papilloma on the skin and mucous there are characteristic neoplasms. Genital papillomas are considered especially dangerous, because they can turn into malignant tumors. Papillomavirus infection in women, which provokes the formation of genital warts on the cervix, can also be the cause of cancer development.

When localized on other sites, such formations are less dangerous with respect to malignant degeneration, but they cause a noticeable cosmetic defect and can provoke an inflammatory process. It must also be said that papillomavirus infection in pregnant women causes complications of labor and infection of the fetus.

Methods of treatment of this disease

To date, there is no international standard for the therapy of pathologies that are associated with human papillomaviruses. Now an active search is being made for the most effective methods, which would take into account the possibility of cancer development, recurrences and complications after the destruction of tumors.

Papillomavirus infection: treatment

It should include combined schemes in which antiviral (etiotropic) therapy is performed, immunomodulators are used, as well as complex methods that are directed at the destruction of concomitant flora (fungi, bacteria, chlamydia and other viruses).

In the treatment of this disease, low-traumatic destruction and photodynamic therapy (in cases of malignant course) are performed. Attention is paid to preventing relapses. For this purpose, a course of vitamins, desensitizing preparations, and adaptogens are prescribed .

In the treatment it is important to combine several methods, take into account the clinical manifestations of the disease and monitor the course of papillomavirus infection.