Papillomas are lumps that form on the skin and mucous membranes. They are not really a disease, but serve as an external manifestation of HPV infection in the body - human papillomavirus.
Papillomavirus comes in many different strains, some of which are dangerous because tumors have malignant transformational properties, that is, they can turn into malignant tumors.
Causes of genital papillomas
Papillomas are benign structures that form on the skin or in the mucous membranes of the wart.
Human papillomavirus can be transmitted in several ways, from a sick person to a healthy person. The main method is sexual, unprotected sex. However, you can transmit the virus through household contact, through contact with a carrier, or through blood or other fluids if the integrity of the body or mucous membranes is compromised.
It is very difficult to completely "destroy" a virus that has already entered the body, but in about 90% of cases there is an independent cure, in other words, the immune system itself "kills" the virus. However, in some cases the disease is recurrent and can last for many years.
Particularly dangerous strains have the ability to be malignant, that is, the tumor becomes malignant.
HPV has a long incubation period, strong immunity, and it can last from a month to a year.
However, once the immune system is weakened, it will feel better. Symptoms of its presence are structures in the body and mucous membranes that can be round, oblong or oblong in shape and vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters.
More than 600 strains of the virus are known to medicine, more than 40 of which can cause new tumors in the genital and anal areas of men and women. They cause papillomas in the penis, called genital warts.
Some papillomas are not harmful to human health, others can cause an irritating cosmetic defect - warts, and others can threaten the body with the most dangerous disease - cancer. There is medical evidence for the development of HPV strains and infections between cervical and breast cancers.
If a virus that causes papillomas in the genitals enters the body, its route of entry is considered sexual. Adultery, bisexuality, and homosexuality are especially dangerous. However, the virus can be congenital - the fetus is infected when it passes through the birth canal of an infected mother. There is also a risk of skin infections when going to the pool, public toilets, baths, saunas, gyms, epilation, and shaving.
Signs and symptoms of the disease
Symptoms depend on the site of localization, the number and size of papillomas.
Most commonly, papillomas affect the head of the penis, "erect" it along the skin of the penis, form colonies in the mouth, and may even penetrate the urethra.
With a strong proliferation, papillomas can take the form of "cauliflower", which can cause urinary incontinence, pain and even bleeding during sexual intercourse.
As it is a viral disease, activation of papilloma growth is accompanied by a strong decrease in immunity. The person feels weak, lethargic, may have a fever, often at a subfebrile level (37 - 37, 5 ° C). Because the immune system is weakened, an infected person can catch a cold and easily "get" ARVI and ARVI.
An increase in papillomas can lead to phimosis - a narrowing of the skin of the foreskin.
Due to this condition, a special lubricating oil accumulates on the head of the penis - smegma. Its infection can lead to the development of a dangerous disease, so even if a papilloma is found, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor. Individual tumors can be eliminated quickly and almost painlessly, and there is a high risk of their growth and development into malignant tumors.
Necessary tests and examinations
The presence of papilloma is determined visually by a physician, but other studies are needed to determine the strain and its risk level for the patient. The patient submits blood for dialing using a PCR, Digene screening test, and is checked for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases because in most cases HPV is "associated" with STIs.
If papillomas enter the urethra, urethroscopy is performed. If the growth is too large or doctors suspect that the formation has begun to turn into a cancer, the doctor may prescribe a biopsy.
Methods of treatment and removal of papillomas
It is not possible to completely remove human papillomavirus from an infected person's body, and sometimes it persists for the rest of the patient's life. Drugs to fight HPV are the use of antiviral drugs and immunomodulators that stimulate the activity of the human immune system.
In general, the efforts of doctors are aimed at eliminating the external signs of the virus, ie papillomas, warts and genital warts.
Only in the case of cancer degeneration, a comprehensive treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy, is used to reduce the risk of tumor spread.
The following treatments are used to remove genital papilloma:
- Surgical removal.
- Electrocoagulation.
- Laser destruction of structures (neodymium or carbon dioxide).
- Cryodestruction is the removal of a tumor with the help of liquid nitrogen. Cryodestruction can be used or aerosolized.
- Cauterization with chemicals.
In most cases, the use of these methods is sufficient to remove the papilloma and prevent its recurrence.
The choice of treatment depends on the degree of damage, the type of tumor, the patient's state of health and his age.
There is a special vaccine that is used to prevent the most dangerous disease in women - squamous cell carcinoma or cervical cancer. It has been proven that this is caused by one of the most dangerous strains of human papillomavirus, because this type of cancer does not occur in the absence of HPV in the body.
Unfortunately, today there is no vaccine that can prevent infection with other types of human papillomavirus, including the growth of intimate male organs. The only effective way to protect yourself is to use condoms during sexual intercourse, as well as to maintain good personal hygiene and to avoid possible infections in public places.
Prognosis and possible difficulties
Doctors have found that in 90% of all cases of HPV infection, when the human immune system is strong, the body fights the virus on its own within 24 months. However, this observation only applies to certain strains of human papillomavirus, which are not capable of developing cancer.
The most dangerous complication should be considered malignancy, ie the transformation of papilloma into cancer. However, only some HPV strains have these properties. Tragic consequences can be prevented with early access to medical care and timely diagnosis.
In rare cases, after removal of the papilloma, a tumor may appear in and around the scar tissue, if the virus is actively multiplying in the patient's body due to the weakening of the immune system. In this situation, it is necessary to comprehensively strengthen the patient's immunity to repeatedly remove papillomas and prevent further growth of forms.
In most cases, the prognosis is positive if the disease is not very advanced. However, this is a rare genital wart, because their development causes severe discomfort to the man, and he immediately seeks medical attention.