Human Papillomavirus |
Etiology & Epidemiology |
Etiology
"Sexually transmitted HPV infection leads to one of three possible results, depending largely on which HPV type is involved. The first is anogenital warts (condyloma acuminatum) on or around the genitals and anus in both men and women. Anogenital warts are generally associated with HPV-6 and HPV-11 and do not lead to cancer. Most are asymptomatic and may spontaneously resolve in 3 to 4 months, remain the same, or increase in size and number."(Insigna)
"Treatment options include ablation, excision, or topical agents such as 0.5% podophyllin (Podocon) or 5.0% imiquimod (Aldara). When anogenital warts are red-brown pigmented, they should be subjected to biopsy. The second result is latent or inactive infection, in which few people know they are infected since noticeable symptoms are seldom produced and the infected area remains cytologically normal. HPV DNA is present in approximately 10% of women with cytologically normal cervical epithelium." (Insigna) "The third result is active infection, which is associated with high-risk HPV types in which the virus causes changes in infected cells which may result in penile, urethral, bladder, vaginal, vulvar, or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. High-risk HPV types include types associated with high-grade lesions and cervical cancers and types identified as intermediate risk that are less commonly represented in cancers but are frequently seen in SIL). These infections can lead to cervical cancer. Prospective studies have shown that 15 to 28% of women in whom HPV DNA was detected developed SIL within 2 years, compared to only 1 to 3% of women in whom HPV DNA was not detected. In particular, the risk of progression for HPV-16 and -18 was greater (approximately 40%) than for other HPV types."(Insigna) |
Epidemiology of HPV:
HPV is contracted through direct contact from human to human. It can be transmitted via vaginal, anal, and oral sexual intercourse, genital contact with an infected person, or through nonsexual contact of mother and child before, during, and after birth. Rates of acquisition of HPV are high, especially among young adults. HPV infections occur highest in young females aged 16 to 25, tend to drop off from age 35 to 54, and peak again after age 55. Studies have shown that most (over 50%) of sexually active women have been infected with one or more types of genital HPV at some point in their lives. HPV infections are fortunately not typically fatal unless an infection from a high-risk strain evolves into cervical cancer.
Infection with oncogenic HPV types is also higher than infection with non-oncogenic types (Baseman). The highest risk factors for contraction of HPV include an increased number of sexual partners, early age at first sexual intercourse, and partners having had multiple other sexual partners.
HPV is contracted through direct contact from human to human. It can be transmitted via vaginal, anal, and oral sexual intercourse, genital contact with an infected person, or through nonsexual contact of mother and child before, during, and after birth. Rates of acquisition of HPV are high, especially among young adults. HPV infections occur highest in young females aged 16 to 25, tend to drop off from age 35 to 54, and peak again after age 55. Studies have shown that most (over 50%) of sexually active women have been infected with one or more types of genital HPV at some point in their lives. HPV infections are fortunately not typically fatal unless an infection from a high-risk strain evolves into cervical cancer.
Infection with oncogenic HPV types is also higher than infection with non-oncogenic types (Baseman). The highest risk factors for contraction of HPV include an increased number of sexual partners, early age at first sexual intercourse, and partners having had multiple other sexual partners.
|
|