Human papilloma virus
INTRODUCTION: characteristics, basic properties and medical importance of the virus
The human papilloma virus, a member of the family Papillomaviridae, is an agent that causes Human Papillomavirus infections that affect skin and mucous membranes. This group of viruses includes more than 100 different strains or types and more than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted.
HPV can infect the genital areas of both women and men and is a virus specific to humans. This includes the vulva in women, the cervix, the anus, and the linings of the vagina and rectum. In men it is commonly known to infect the skin of the penis and/or the anus. HPV is a virus that very commonly causes genital warts ("low-risk" HPV). HPV is the leading risk factor associated with cancer of the uterus and cervix ("high-risk" HPV), although most people with genital warts caused by HPV never develop cancer of the uterus or cervix. Genital warts can appear to be "small, flat, flesh-colored bumps or tiny, cauliflower-like bumps". In some cases, genital warts may be too small to see and will need to be further examined. The symptoms of genital warts can include itching, tenderness, burning, pain, or may not even present symptoms at all. Genital warts may appear within weeks or months after having sexual contact with an infected person, or may not appear at all.
Since HPV infects both men and women, how doctors identify HPV infections vary depending on sex. In women, yearly Pap tests are administered which collect cells from the cervix to be tested for signs of abnormal change. An HPV infection is based on the detection of capsid protein or of specific viral nucleic acid. The Pap test can detect common "high" and "low-risk" HPV genotypes. There are more specific methods that can be performed by specialized doctors to determine which type of HPV is present if the test is positive for "high-risk" such as a colposcopy or an HPV test. These tests are normally done if your
The human papilloma virus, a member of the family Papillomaviridae, is an agent that causes Human Papillomavirus infections that affect skin and mucous membranes. This group of viruses includes more than 100 different strains or types and more than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted.
HPV can infect the genital areas of both women and men and is a virus specific to humans. This includes the vulva in women, the cervix, the anus, and the linings of the vagina and rectum. In men it is commonly known to infect the skin of the penis and/or the anus. HPV is a virus that very commonly causes genital warts ("low-risk" HPV). HPV is the leading risk factor associated with cancer of the uterus and cervix ("high-risk" HPV), although most people with genital warts caused by HPV never develop cancer of the uterus or cervix. Genital warts can appear to be "small, flat, flesh-colored bumps or tiny, cauliflower-like bumps". In some cases, genital warts may be too small to see and will need to be further examined. The symptoms of genital warts can include itching, tenderness, burning, pain, or may not even present symptoms at all. Genital warts may appear within weeks or months after having sexual contact with an infected person, or may not appear at all.
Since HPV infects both men and women, how doctors identify HPV infections vary depending on sex. In women, yearly Pap tests are administered which collect cells from the cervix to be tested for signs of abnormal change. An HPV infection is based on the detection of capsid protein or of specific viral nucleic acid. The Pap test can detect common "high" and "low-risk" HPV genotypes. There are more specific methods that can be performed by specialized doctors to determine which type of HPV is present if the test is positive for "high-risk" such as a colposcopy or an HPV test. These tests are normally done if your