Infection Symptoms
There are over 100 different strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), and 40 of these strains have the ability to infect the anogenital area. Of these, type 6 HPV is one of the more common strains. Infection with type 6 HPV can cause warts to appear in and around the anus and rectal area, as well as the penis or vagina. These warts can occur in any area that is sexually exposed, and they generally appear as small, fleshy bumps, though they can also be larger and look like cauliflower. Infection with type 6 HPV in women can also cause a condition known as cervical dysplasia, in which some of the cells of the cervix develop an abnormal appearance. These abnormal cells are most commonly identified during the course of a pap smear.
Type 6 HPV and Cancer
One of the major hazards of HPV infections is that they can increase the risk of cervical cancer. When the HPV infects a female, some of the virus's DNA can be left behind in the cells of the cervix. If the cervical cells incorporate the viral DNA into their own DNA, the cervical cells will change. This can cause the cervical cells to grow abnormally, developing cervical dysplasia or precancerous lesions. Although type 6 HPV can cause cervical dysplasia, the changes in the cells are relatively mild and are less likely to result in cancer. As a result, type 6 HPV (along with type 11) is usually referred to as "low-risk" HPV, whereas types 16 and 18, which can cause more drastic cellular changes in the cervix, are termed "high-risk."
Diagnosis of Type 6 HPV
The presence of genital warts alone are not enough to diagnose a HPV infection as genital warts are fairly common and are not necessarily caused by HPV, let alone by type 6. There are no specific hallmarks of genital warts caused by HPV. The presence of cervical dysplasia from a pap smear also does not definitively indicate HPV infection as there are numerous causes of abnormal cervical cells, including recent sexual intercourse. For HPV to be definitively diagnosed and typed, genetic tests must be done either on a biopsy from the warts or from the cells in the pap smear. These genetic tests will usually look for the DNA sequences specific to HPV. Once the presence of HPV has been confirmed, more sensitive testing can determine which strain of HPV has caused the infection. In many cases, infection with type 6 HPV will warrant more frequent pap smears to ensure that cervical cancer does not develop but will not require additional medical procedures.
