Today, in the favorite column “5 questions about…” we will talk about HPV (human papilloma virus).
1. Does the papilloma virus occur in children?
– Yes, children can be infected at birth from an HPV-positive mother or through household contact through contact of an infected surface with damaged skin of the child.
2. If I have papillomas on my body, can it lead to cervical cancer?
– No, cancer colli uteri is associated with oncogenic types of HPV, and ordinary papillomas on the body are caused by non-oncogenic types of the virus (there are maybe a hundred of them). However, if multiple papillomas appeared on the body, it means that the immune system has failed. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to take an analysis of cells from the cervix for atypia research (PAP test) and rule out the presence of HPV of a highly oncogenic type.
3. Can HPV be cured?
– Unfortunately, there is currently no antiviral therapy for HPV. But fortunately, most infections caused by HPV pass on their own within 1-3 years, without leading to serious diseases.
4. How to protect yourself from HPV?
– The only effective way to protect against HPV is vaccination.
5. How to prepare for HPV vaccination?
– Vaccination does not require special training. The only limitation is an allergic or other negative reaction to the previous dose of the vaccine or an acute illness with an increase in body temperature.