The human papillomavirus is easily acquired and usually not serious. There are steps one can take to prevent the virus, however. An individual with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is at risk of serious infection from the virus. Sexually active women who do not have regular gynecological examinations are also at risk of serious consequences due to human papillomavirus.
Definition
The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a common virus with more than 100 different strains. Some strains invade the skin, while others invade mucous membranes. The strains of the virus are divided into low-risk and high-risk strains, with the latter capable of causing cancer.
Prevalence
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 50 percent of sexually active Americans will contract human papillomavirus during their lifetimes, making it the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Non-genital warts are also common. The incubation period of the virus---the time from exposure to the virus until the time signs or symptoms appear---may be from a week to over a year. Often, the immune system rids the body of the virus without treatment.
Non-Genital HPV
Non-genital warts are acquired through contact with the human papillomavirus. They are contracted through skin-to-skin contact with the wart, touching someone's hand who has touched a wart or touching an object such as a towel that has been used by someone with a wart. Plantar warts, found on the feet, may be contracted by walking on a moist floor where someone with a plantar wart has walked, explains the Mayo Clinic. Transmission may occur before warts are recognizable on the infected individual.
Genital HPV
Genital warts are spread by sexual contact with someone who has human papilloma virus. Occasionally, these warts are found on the lips or in the mouth or throat due to sexual contact. High-risk strains of HPV can cause cervical, penile, anal and vulvar cancer. Rarely, cancer may develop in other genital regions due to the human papillomavirus.
Prevention
To prevent non-genital human papillomavirus, an individual should avoid touching the warts of others. Towels and washcloths used by someone with a wart should not be touched. The hands should be washed if accidental contact occurs. It is also important to avoid touching one's own warts as the virus can easily be spread to other areas of the body. The Mayo Clinic recommends wearing shoes in public areas where others may be walking barefoot.
Sexual abstinence and avoidance of sexual contact is the most effective way to avoid genital-related HPV. Condoms afford some, but not total, protection, according to Rutgers University Health Services. An HPV vaccine is available for females and males aged 9 to 26; this vaccine, taken as a series of three injections, offers protection against the strains of HPV that most often cause genital warts and cervical cancer.
References
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Warts
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Human Papillomavirus: HPV Information for Clinicians
- Rutgers University: Rutgers Health Services: Human Papilloma Virus - Genital Warts
- Mayo Clinic: Plantar Warts
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: HPV Vaccine: Questions & Answers
