HPV - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Human papillomavirus or HPV is a virus that can cause infection on the surface of the skin, and has the potential to cause cervical cancer. This viral infection is characterized by the growth of warts on the skin in various areas of the body, such as the arms, legs, mouth, and genital area.

HPV infection can be transmitted through direct contact with the patient's skin or having sex with the patient. Most HPV infections are harmless and cause no symptoms. Even so, it is estimated to be around and does not cause symptoms. Even so, it is estimated that around 70% of cervical cancer cases in the world are caused by this viral infection.

To prevent it, HPV vaccination can be given to men and women from the age of 9 to 26 years. In addition, in order to reduce the risk of contracting HPV infection, it is advisable not to change partners.

Symptom HPV

HPV infection often causes no symptoms. However, in some cases, this virus can survive until it causes symptoms in the form of warts growing on the surface of the skin. Warts can grow on the arms, legs, face, and genitals. Here are the characteristics of warts on the skin according to the area of ​​growth:

  • Warts that grow on the shoulders, arms, and fingers

    Warts that grow in this area are lumps that feel rough. These warts can be painful and prone to bleeding.

  • Warts that grow on the soles of the feet (plantar warts)

    Shaped hard lumps and feels rough, causing discomfort when treading.

  • wart in the face area

    Warts on the face have a flat surface (flat warts). In children, it more often appears in the lower jaw area.

  • Genital warts

    Genital warts are shaped like cauliflower and can grow on the genitals of both men and women. In addition to the genitals, warts can also grow in the anus and cause itching.

Causes and Risk Factors of HPV

The HPV virus lives in skin surface cells that enter through cuts in the skin. The spread of HPV infection can occur through direct contact with the patient's skin.

Most of the HPV virus causes warts on the body, while a few others can enter the body through sexual intercourse. Pregnant women can also pass the virus on to their babies during delivery.

There are several conditions that can increase the risk of infection with the HPV virus, namely:

  • Frequently changing sexual partners.
  • Have a weak immune system.
  • Have open sores on the skin.
  • Suffering from a sexually transmitted disease, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia.
  • Have anal sex.

Diagnosis HPV

Diagnosis of HPV infection can be seen through the appearance of warts on the skin. However, as has been said, warts may not grow and unfortunately HPV infection in the female genitals is at risk of causing cervical cancer.

To see the presence of HPV infection that is at risk of causing cervical cancer, the doctor may perform examinations:

  • Test IVA

    This procedure is done by dripping a special liquid acetic acid on the genital or genital area. If you have an HPV infection, your skin color will turn white.

  • PAP smear

    PAP smear aims to determine changes in cervical conditions that lead to cancer due to HPV infection. PAP smear This is done by taking a sample of cervical cells for further examination in the laboratory.

  • HPV DNA test

    The HPV DNA test is performed to detect the presence of genetic elements (DNA) from the HPV virus that is at high risk of causing cervical cancer.

HPV Infection Treatment

Most cases of HPV go away on their own without treatment. However, for those who have been diagnosed with HPV infection, especially women with genital warts, the obstetrician will advise the patient to do the test again within 1 year.

This repeat visit to the doctor aims to determine whether the patient is still infected with HPV and whether there are cell changes in the cervix (neck of the womb), which are at risk of causing cervical cancer.

Meanwhile, to treat warts that appear due to HPV infection, the actions that can be taken by doctors are:

Giving ooil bat

For warts on the skin, the doctor may prescribe topical medications that contain salicylic acid. Salicylic acid works to gradually erode the wart layer.

Wart removal

If topical medication does not work to remove the wart, the doctor can remove the wart by:

  • Cryotherapy, which is freezing the warts with liquid nitrogen.
  • Cautery, namely burning warts with an electric current.
  • Operation.
  • Laser beam.

Various treatments for warts cannot kill the HPV virus, so warts can grow back as long as the virus is still in the body. Until now there is no treatment that can kill HPV. HPV can go away with a good immune system.

HPV Complications

However, efforts must be made to deal with it. Because if not treated properly, HPV infection can cause complications such as:

  • Sores in the mouth and respiratory tracttop n

    These sores can appear on the tongue, throat, larynx, or nose.

  • Kanker

    Several types of cancer that can arise are cervical cancer, anal cancer, and cancer of the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms of cervical cancer in the early stages are usually not typical, and can even have no symptoms at all.

  • Disturbance pregnancy and childbirth

    This complication can occur in pregnant women who have HPV infection with genital warts. In addition, sometimes HPV infection can also cause other conditions, such as cervical erosion.

Hormonal changes can make genital warts spread and block the birth canal. In some cases, the warts can also bleed and transmit the HPV infection to the baby at birth.

Steps to Prevent HPV Infection

The main step to prevent HPV infection is to get vaccinated against HPV. The vaccine aims to prevent HPV infection which is at risk of causing cervical cancer. The recommended age for getting the HPV vaccine or cervical cancer vaccine is 9-26 years. The following are recommendations for HPV vaccination:

  • Women under 15 years of age are recommended to undergo 2 HPV vaccinations, with an interval of 6 months.
  • Women over 15 years old are recommended to undergo 3 HPV vaccinations, with a gap of 2 months between the first and second vaccinations, and 6 months between the second and third vaccinations.

Not only in women, vaccination also needs to be done in men to prevent the spread of HPV. Men and women between the ages of 27 and 45 or who are sexually active, but have never received the HPV vaccine can still get vaccinated, but it's best to talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks. Men can also perform circumcision to reduce the risk of transmitting HPV to their sexual partners.

In addition to vaccination, there are a number of preventive measures that can be taken, including:

  • Meldo regular checkups

    The sooner detected, HPV infection can be treated immediately.

  • Don't touch the wart directly

    If you accidentally touch it with your hands, wash your hands immediately afterwards.

  • Have safe sex

    Having safe sex means not having multiple partners and using condoms.

  • Wearing footwear

    Wearing footwear when doing activities outside the home is an effort to avoid contracting HPV infection in public places.