What is HPV infection?
Human papilloma virus (also called HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are at least 100 different types and more than 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital areas of males and females. These HPV types can also infect the mouth and throat.
HPV can cause serious health problems, including genital warts (verrucae) and certain cancers. There is no certain way to tell who will develop health problems from HPV and who will not. In most cases HPV goes away by itself before it causes any health problems, and most people who become infected with HPV do not even know they have it.
HPV is not the same as herpes or HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). Both viruses can be passed on during sex, but they have different symptoms and cause different health problems.
HPV Types and Associated Conditions
Most people infected with HPV never develop any symptoms. However, there are a number of conditions that can result from an HPV infection. The following table lists some of these conditions along with their associated type of HPV.
Disease
HPV Type
Plantar warts
1, 2, 4,63
Common warts
1, 2, 4, 26, 27, 29, 41, 57
Flat warts
3, 10, 27, 28, 41, 49
Genital warts
6, 11, 30, 40-45, 51, 54
Cervical cancer
16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58
Precancerous changes
16, 18, 34, 39, 42, 55
Laryngeal papillomas
6, 11, 30
Epidermodysplasia verruciformis
Over 15 types -
Focal epithelial hyperplasia (oral)
13, 32
Oral papillomas
6, 7, 11, 16, 32 -
Oropharyngeal cancer
16
Laryngeal papillomatosis
6,11
Common Warts-Rough, raised bumps that generally affect the fingers, hands and around the nails. In the majority of cases their only problem is their appearance. However, they may sometimes bleed; some patients may experience pain, but this is unusual.
Plantar Warts-Small lesions that appear on the soles of the feet; they usually look like a cauliflower, with very small hemorrhages