Everyone should know how papillomavirus is transmitted. Is this the only way to protect yourself from dangerous diseases? Often, papillomas are not given special importance. Many people believe that if growth on the body appears, it will disappear on its own. This error haunts mankind, and the consequences may be undesirable.
Papilloma tissue tends to grow, causing papillomavirus to spread throughout the body. Sometimes the tension individually can cause cancer.
What is a human papillomavirus
This virus is an infectious manifestation of various diseases that can occur in humans at any age. In medical practice, the virus has two types, one that does not have a high risk of dangerous diseases, and a high-risk virus.
Less dangerous viruses include papillomas and warts of the 6th and 11th subtypes, and dangerous ones - 16 and 18. It is the last type that leads to cell mutations and cancer development.
The papilloma virus multiplies in the skin and mucous membranes. As a result, the following growths form on the skin:
- warts;
- condyloma;
- papilloma in mouth and larynx;
- papilloma on internal organs.
There are many cases when papilloma is a cause of cervical cancer in women, as well as cancer of the male genitals. To avoid such consequences, it is necessary to know how the disease is transmitted.
How viruses enter the human body
Infection spreads through a person's mucous membranes or skin. If there is no acute disease, then the papilloma does not appear in any way, and no growth is formed on the surface of the skin.
If growth has formed on the skin in different colors, then this indicates a precancerous condition, when the human skin, and the whole body, suffers from malignant disease, or the immune system is significantly reduced.
"Favorite" places to get into bacteria are wounds, scratches and other skin lesions where the virus can penetrate.
The probability of infection increases if:
- A person has the flu, or another cause for which immunity is reduced.
- Dysbacteriosis of the intestine or female genitals is observed. In this case, the beneficial microflora will die, and the harmful microorganisms, in this case, papillomavirus infection, will replace it.
- Presence of venereal disease.
- Recurrence of chronic disease.
- Stress, depression, which reduces a person's defenses against the virus.
People with nicotine addiction and women taking birth control pills are most often affected.
Virus transmission path
If a person has no symptoms, this does not mean the absence of papillomavirus. The early stages, when there is no growth, can be diagnosed using the latest equipment. In medicine, there are several ways of spreading harmful microorganisms.
Both men and women can be infected with a dangerous virus. The following transfer methods are distinguished:
Sexual
This is the most common method of infection. Only one sexual intercourse, and papillomavirus can be transmitted from an infected person to a healthy person. It doesn't matter if the relationship is oral, vaginal or anal. The risk is still there.
Many people are intrigued by the question of whether papillomavirus is transmitted from woman to man. Often, the disease is diagnosed in men, however, and a large number of women are capable of being carriers of the disease. In this case, the location of the bacteria is the genitals, or mucous membranes of the oral cavity, where genital warts have appeared. In this case, there is a 100% risk of infection.
During anal sex, papillomas form in the anus. Especially if there is some damage or injury. If the couple has genital warts, even using a condom will not provide full protection.
The contributing factors to this disease are:
- early onset of sexual activity;
- frequent sexual partner exchanges;
- Condyloma or warts are found in sexual partners.
Oral sex is the most common method of infection in 16 and 18 types of papillomas. In this case, the virus enters the human body through various wounds or other damage to the oral mucosa. Double in the mouth, if there is no qualified treatment, the chances of getting throat cancer are high. To avoid such consequences, you must use a condom.
If the localization of the virus is human skin, then condoms will not help here. Papillomas are transmitted from direct contact with human skin, where condylomas and warts are located.
By household
In this case, the infection occurs in the following way:
- Use the same towels, soaps and personal hygiene products as people who have warts on their hands. Pathology occurs if there are injuries and abrasions on the body.
- The use of a toothbrush or single appliance leads to infection through the patient's saliva.
- Clothes of infected people can also be the center of virus development and spread to healthy people.
- Self-infection during shaving, epilation and other methods. The disease develops if the wart is damaged with a razor or other object, which previously did not pose a danger. In the event of damage, this growth provokes the development of neoplasms, which can endanger human health.
Infections in public places through contact with infected people
Medical practice has documented cases when the virus was transmitted through blood transfusions, surgery to remove genital warts, when doctors inadvertently spread the focus of infection throughout the body, and sterilized poor manicure tools in salons.
Virus transmission from mother to child
Human papilloma is not a hereditary disease, but there is still a risk of transmission from mother to child. During childbirth, the risk of viral transmission is minimal, however, if the placenta is damaged or other changes occur, papilloma can be transmitted to the unborn baby.
The virus will spread through the placenta, as the fetus has not yet formed the bronchi and alveoli. In this case, the child suffers from respiratory papillomatosis. If, after the birth of the baby, he has respiratory problems, then the examination is done, after which treatment or surgery of the drug can be prescribed. The latter option is used more often, as it is more likely to be cured.
Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, it is necessary to pass all the necessary tests to exclude the risk of papilloma.
Most likely the baby will be infected with the virus while passing through the birth canal. The result is the appearance in children of genital warts in the mouth and larynx, which causes various disorders of the respiratory system and decreased immunity.
If papilloma is detected in the female genitals before childbirth, then the birth is performed artificially to reduce the risk of infection in the child.
Another method of infecting a baby from the mother is through breastfeeding. In this case, the child suffers from respiratory papillomatosis, which undergoes immediate treatment.
Viral characteristics in men and women
In women, the virus travels through the cervix, rectum or mouth. If there is frequent sexual partner changes, then the risk of infection increases to a maximum. The consequences of this disease are infertility, cancer and various other diseases.
Papilloma virus in men most often manifests in the scrotum, head of the penis, in the anus or in the mouth. In men, the disease can continue without symptoms, only after severe stress or decreased immunity, the development of papillomavirus can occur.
The dangerous moment of HPV in men is the development of cancer of the male genital organs or anus.
To prevent the virus from entering the human body, it is necessary to follow the rules of hygiene, as well as lead a healthy and faithful lifestyle to a sexual partner.