Why warts appear on the anus and how to treat them

Small neoplasms, papillomas, warts and warts, are very fond of areas of high humidity and temperature. As a rule, this is the area of ​​​​the genitals, anus, neck, armpits.

Particular discomfort, both physical and psychological, is caused by growths in the intimate area and around the anus. Why do they appear, how to treat them and what danger do they pose?

Causes of growths in the anus or around it

The growths, called warts, arise due to the activation of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is present in 80% of the world’s population. Its existence in the body is not accompanied by any symptoms, but under the influence of various factors, it is activated and makes itself felt in this way – the formation papillomas.

The factors that provoke the division of the virus can be different: from minor human negligence to serious health problems.

In an adult

Adults most often become carriers of HPV at the age of onset of sexual activity (15-25 years).

Particularly high risk of infection in those who have promiscuous sex. In addition, in order to “pick up” HPV, it doesn’t matter whether the moment of penetration itself was or whether everything was limited to foreplay: the virus is transmitted even through contact of mucous membranes (for example, during oral sex).

After a person has become a carrier of the virus, he may not know about it for years or even decades. In order for neoplasms to appear in the anus, suitable conditions are necessary, which include:

• decrease in general or local immunity (hypothermia, infections, viruses);
• malnutrition and, as a result, metabolic disorders and intestinal dysbacteriosis;
• insufficient personal hygiene, hyperthermia;
• frequent stress, nervous strain;
• mechanical impact (anal or hard sex, the use of intimate toys, promiscuity, improperly selected underwear);
• ignoring or self-treatment of the first neoplasms, as a result of which new ones arose;
• bad habits (drinking alcohol, smoking);
• hormonal disruptions.

In women, anal warts can occur during pregnancy because there are two risk factors at once: decreased immunity and hormonal changes.

The child has

Oddly enough, cases of anal warts in children are not uncommon, and parents begin to worry a lot: how could HPV be transmitted to a child?

The answer is simple: the virus tends to be transmitted “vertically”, that is, from an infected mother during childbirth. But this is not the only way to infect a child. Sometimes transmission occurs in a household way using one towel, toothbrush and even dishes, especially if the child lives in unsanitary conditions.

The causes of anal warts in children are similar to those in adults, with the exception of sexual intercourse and bad habits.

1. Improper nutrition, intestinal dysbacteriosis.
2. Weakened immunity as a result of viral or infectious diseases, surgical operations, severe hypothermia.
3. Frequent stress (for example, when going to kindergarten for the first time or when moving from kindergarten to school).
4. Self-treatment or no treatment at the first appearance of warts.
5. Avitaminosis (often diagnosed in the autumn-winter period).

During puberty, papillomas often occur in the genital area in both boys and girls. Children are often embarrassed or afraid to tell their parents about this, as a result of which injury to the build-up can occur. Through an open early, the virus can spread to neighboring areas of the skin, and then warts appear near the anus.

The main ways of infection of a healthy person

As already mentioned, HPV most often enters the body through sexual contact. This includes any kind of contact (vaginal, oral, anal) and even petting (contact with the genitals).

In addition, infection can occur in other ways:

• vertical (from mother to child);
• household (use of common hygiene products, towels, razors, combs).

Viruses are structures that are microscopic in size, but are able to remain viable in the environment for a long time. To do this, they need high humidity, so the virus can be in reservoirs and even running water, although the risk of infection in this way is almost zero.

Being in the environment, the virus is waiting for its “finest hour”. It can enter the body of a healthy person through the slightest microcracks: when the cuticle is injured during a manicure, if the master does not sterilize the instruments, when applying a tattoo, during medical procedures, for example, dental.

The virus is constantly in the environment, but if personal hygiene is observed, infection by household means is unlikely. But neglect of safety rules in public places (massage, beauty parlors, baths and saunas, swimming pools) can contribute to the penetration of the virus into the body.

Classification of growths and localization

To date, more than a hundred strains of papillomavirus have been studied, and experts offer several reasons for classifying neoplasms.

According to the degree of oncogenicity:

• safe (strains 1, 2, 3, 5) never degenerate into cancer;
• low or medium risk (strains 6, 11, 42, 43, 44 ) in rare cases cause the appearance of malignant tumors;
• a high degree of oncogenicity (strains 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56 , 58 , 59 , 68 , 70 ) are of particular danger and are highly likely to provoke cancer.

Since it is visually impossible to determine the type of virus, when papilloma appears, it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

By localization, two broad groups of HPV are distinguished:

• genital (affect the genital area and anus);
• extragenital (occur on any part of the body, except for the intimate zone: neck, back, head, limbs).

Sometimes the principle of separation according to the same principle includes skin papillomas and papillomas of the mucous membranes. By the number of neoplasms, there are single and multiple papillomas.

According to the shape of the papillomas are divided into flat and hanging, according to the structure – open or closed (covered with a cornea – keratopapillomas).

According to the structure, shape and place of localization, several types of growths are distinguished:

• ordinary, or plantar , are formed on the palms or soles, resemble a corn; filiform ones resemble a round volumetric formation on a thin thread-like leg and are more often localized on the face or in the intimate zone;
• genital warts are flesh-colored and pointed upwards, grow very quickly and form only in the genital area and anus;
• flat papillomas do not rise much above the skin, grow slowly and do not cause discomfort, but they often degenerate into a cancerous tumor.

Separately, a group of papillomas of the oral cavity is distinguished, which also belong to genital warts and affect the oral mucosa. This type of neoplasm is dangerous for babies, because they can appear in the tonsils and lead to airway blockage and death.

Symptoms and signs of infection

The papillomavirus has a fairly long period of latent infection. Moreover, in 90% of cases, self-healing occurs within 6-24 months from the moment of infection.

If the immune system has not coped with the virus on its own, the latter can exist asymptomatically in the body for 1, 2, 5, 10 or more years. Often, infection occurs before the age of 25, and the first papillomas appear in adulthood, after 50 years.

If the virus has found a way to divide and modify epithelial cells, neoplasms appear, the collective name of which is papillomas. They can appear in any part of the body, from the eyelids to the inside of the genitals (in the vagina or under the foreskin). Even the palms and soles, as well as the interdigital spaces, can be affected by the virus.

In most cases, at the initial stage, papillomas do not bother a person, but as they grow, discomfort occurs. An exception is plantar papilloma, which prevents a person from walking from the first days of growth. If papillomas are formed in the intimate area, discomfort occurs during sex. Also, the patient may be disturbed by itching and burning.

Anal warts are almost always uncomfortable, characterized by severe itching, pain or discomfort during defecation, suppuration, foul odor, discharge and blood in the stool, and sensation of a foreign body in the anus.

Often the sensations are so unpleasant that the patient may confuse them with hemorrhoids. In addition, with anal warts, it is impossible to have anal sex because of the pain, and this becomes very noticeable for a person who practices it regularly.

Why HPV is dangerous in anus: possible complications

The main danger of papilloma  is the risk of degeneration into malignant tumors. So, if the growth is caused by a virus with a high degree of oncogenicity, it can very quickly transform into rectal cancer, prostate cancer, penis cancer or cervical cancer.

The anus is located near the genitals, so it is possible that multiple formations, albeit small ones, are also present inside the vagina or under the foreskin, in the urogenital canal.

Running papillomas lead to other consequences:

• Bowen’s disease, or papulosis, is the most dangerous pathology in which malignant tumors grow very quickly throughout the entire mucosa, affecting not only the anus, but also the genital area. They are black, dark brown or brown in color.
• Bushke-Levenshtein condyloma is a complication of papillomatosis, in which neoplasms do not rise above the surface of the skin, but grow into the anus. The doctor at the same time sees a large nodule in the deep layers of the epidermis, covered with a stratum corneum.

If the anal wart is damaged while wearing tight underwear, injury or sex, it can lead to infection.

Then the symptomatology becomes bright, wet marks remain on the linen, often with blood, itching and burning bother, purulent-bloody or mucous discharges appear, severe pain. The act of defecation becomes unbearably painful or impossible. Perhaps an increase in temperature to subfebrile.

Which doctor should be contacted?

Unfortunately, the problem of anal warts seems too scrupulous and shameful to patients, so they do not dare to go to the doctor and try to find the tubercles in the anus on their own.

This is not prohibited, and a person can really tactilely detect papillary formations around the anus, but they can be located both inside the epidermis and inside the anus. In addition, the wart must be differentiated from hemorrhoids and anal fissure, so a trip to the doctor cannot be postponed or canceled.

It would be advisable to contact a dermatovenereologist, venereologist, urologist, proctologist or gynecologist. If the patient is completely at a loss and does not know which doctor to go to , it is better to visit a therapist first and talk about his problem.

Seeing a general practitioner can also speed up the diagnosis, since a generalist may already prescribe the first tests, such as a general or biochemical blood test.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of an anal wart includes several stages:

• visual inspection;
• palpation;
• anoscopy – a visual examination of the inner surface of the anus with an anoscope, which can be inserted rectally 15 cm deep;
• sigmoidoscopy – examination of the entire rectal mucosa.

The studies are completely painless for the patient, if the papillomas have not grown over a large area and have not blocked the anus. Much more psychological inconvenience and fear than pain or discomfort.

Treatment Methods

The chosen method of treatment largely depends on the area of ​​the affected skin, the localization of the neoplasm and its features. The general condition of the patient is also taken into account: for example, in some cases, laser removal may be contraindicated (pregnancy).

Medical therapy

Conservative treatment with the help of pharmaceutical products is advisable at the initial stage of the onset of the disease with a single growth. But, in order not to reassure the patient, I immediately want to say that a complete cure with the help of drug therapy is almost impossible.

Disadvantages of drug treatment:

• does not guarantee 100% disposal of papilloma;
• it is impossible to heal the formations inside the anus, so the method is only suitable for eliminating growths on the surface of the anus;
• require a long period of time;
• high risk of relapse.

However, many flatly refuse to resort to surgical removal of papilloma and stop at conservative therapy. It includes taking antiviral drugs (Acyclovir, Novirin, Isoprinosine), local treatment of growths with gels and ointments (Viferon, salicylic ointment, Panavir).

In some cases, rectal suppositories are prescribed (Betadine, Kipferon). However, even if the papilloma has completely disappeared, there is a high risk of neoplasms reappearing.

laser removal

Laser removal of papillomas is one of the most modern and effective ways to get rid of growths. The surgical scalpel is being replaced by a high-precision laser that penetrates damaged areas of the skin or mucous membrane, evaporates fluid from atypical cells and eliminates papilloma.

The method is safe, painless, does not affect healthy areas of the skin, does not leave scars and does not require a long recovery period. A significant disadvantage is the high cost.

Cryodestruction

Cryodestruction refers to the destruction of papilloma with liquid nitrogen at low temperatures. During the procedure, the growth is frozen and literally falls off. Fast, painless and effective way to deal with papillomas.

Radio wave destruction

More modern than surgical, but less traumatic than laser removal, a way to eliminate papilloma. For treatment, a radio wave knife is used, with which the wart is excised. During the manipulation, there may be slight pain, and after the procedure, a small scar or scar remains.

Electrocoagulation

For this method, doctors resort to local anesthesia. The wart is destroyed by high frequency electric current. As a result, a scab is formed, which disappears after healing. A scar remains in its place.

Chemical removal

A fairly conservative way to remove warts is to use chemicals. The most commonly used is 3% acetic acid, which burns out the growth. In this case, it is very important not to touch healthy areas of the skin and not burn them, so only a doctor performs manipulations.

Surgical removal

During surgical removal, local anesthesia is used. The doctor uses a scalpel to make an incision and excise the papilloma around the perimeter, after which it sutures. Usually, after the operation, the use of antiseptic agents is required, for external use, less often – antibiotics.

In this case, healing occurs within 1-2 months, soreness after surgery is possible.

Folk recipes

Traditional medicine does not lose its relevance to this day, although many doctors recommend abandoning self-removal of papilloma using methods that were popular decades ago.

The main problem lies in the fact that it is impossible to take papilloma tissue for biopsy, and reappearance of papilloma, low efficiency of therapy, and damage to healthy skin areas are also possible.

However, people still continue to use solutions and alternative medicine in the treatment of papilloma:

• cauterization with iodine;
• treatment with a solution of laundry soap and water;
• saline treatment;
• lotions and compresses with fresh potato juice;
• cauterization with garlic juice or compresses from garlic gruel;
• processing with fresh celandine juice.

It is clear that the treatment of folk remedies takes at least 30 days, but does not guarantee any result.

Prevention and vaccination

HPV vaccination is effective for people who have not yet had sex. As a rule, vaccinations are more often given to girls, because, firstly, they are more responsible for their health, and secondly, they have a higher risk of papilloma degeneration into cancer.

Currently, there are two types of HPV vaccines: Gardasil and Cervarix , which have a similar effect and are put to prevent cancer of the genital organs and anus carcinoma, the appearance of genital warts in men and women.

Prevention of HPV consists of the following items:

• Do not have sexual intercourse with multiple partners, especially without the use of barrier contraception.
• Quit smoking and alcohol abuse.
• Observe personal hygiene.
• Choose the right underwear, giving preference to cotton.
• Seek medical attention promptly and do not self-medicate.
• Take care of proper nutrition.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle.
• Visit a doctor for preventive examinations every six months (gynecologist and dermatovenereologist, urologist and proctologist).

The human papillomavirus is very insidious, because it often does not make itself felt for years. No one is safe from it, but in 90% of cases the papillomavirus itself leaves the human body six months to a year after infection. If papilloma still appears, you should immediately consult a doctor, undergo a full examination and begin treatment.