Condylomatosis is an infectious disease caused by the human papillomavirus. In most cases, infection occurs through sexual contact, directly through the blood. The disease is characterized by a long chronic stage, with short periods of remission.
Without specialized medical treatment, the virus does not go away on its own and can remain in the human body for decades. To date, medicine has in its arsenal effective means that can completely cure the patient from this disease.
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External manifestation and forms of the disease
Very often, condylomatosis manifests itself in the form of single warts. In some cases, they can grow and merge with each other. As a result, the growths outwardly resemble cauliflower inflorescences.
A similar type of disease is called genital warts. Extensive rashes on the patient’s body should prompt him to immediately contact a medical institution and pass the appropriate tests, including passing a papillomavirus test in the body.
Anogenital condylomatosis is the most common form that is diagnosed in both women and men. The main sign of the presence of a virus in the body is a pronounced change in the color of the skin in the perineum and external genitalia.
Vaginal condylomatosis in women is the most dangerous type of human papillomavirus infection. It can appear as flat growths located on the cervix. The advanced stage of the disease, with untimely treatment, can develop into a malignant form.
Female condylomatosis, what is it?
Vulvar warts most often take an acute form. Moreover, the virus that has entered the body may not give itself away for a long time. The first signs of the disease are detected when the hormonal background changes.
Therefore, condylomatosis in women is very often detected during pregnancy during the initial examination. For the fetus itself, it does not pose a serious danger, however, treatment is difficult due to the fact that many drugs cannot be taken by pregnant women.
If HPV (human papillomavirus) is suspected, a woman undergoes the following examination:
- Visual inspection of the perineum, vaginal walls and cervix.
- Sampling of vaginal biomaterial for the presence of possible venereal diseases.
- Laboratory diagnostics to determine the strain of the virus. According to the international classification, it can be: low oncogenic or high oncogenic. The latter is more dangerous, because it can degenerate into a malignant tumor.
Condylomatosis in men
The main sign of the presence of the HPV virus in males is the characteristic rash in the genital area (penis, scrotum, anus). It is in these places that the most comfortable environment for the development of infection is created.
In most cases, the man himself is able to determine the presence of such a viral disease. Therefore, at the first signs of illness, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
In men, the most common forms are condylomas of two types: pointed and wide. The latter represent a greater potential danger.
Variety of genital warts
According to the medical classification, growths are divided into:
- typical (or pointed) – appear on the genitals of both sexes;
- papular – smooth neoplasms of a rounded shape;
- hyperkeratotic – growths of this type are layered on top of each other, thereby resembling scales;
- flat – these warts do not protrude above the surface of the skin, but grow in width. For the most part, they look like inconspicuous spots, which is why they are quite problematic to recognize.
Depending on the form and location of condylomas, there can be several varieties:
- keratotic – appear on the genitals, visually resemble cauliflower inflorescences;
- papular – have a burgundy color and a smooth surface;
- voluminous warts – appear in women during pregnancy;
- endourethral – can develop in the urethra in men;
- intrauterine – occur in females, in most cases, appear on the walls of the vagina and on the cervix, and can also form on the genitals.
Causes of growths
It is known that warts are formed as a result of infection with the human papillomavirus. Its main feature is the defeat of exclusively the skin and mucous membranes. It has no effect on the blood and internal organs.
At the moment, there are more than 160 subspecies of papilloma in the world. Depending on the variety, one strain affects only the legs, the second – only the hands, the third – the genitals, etc. According to their effect on the human body, all types of condyloma viruses are conventionally divided according to the degree of risk:
- low – most of the detected subspecies belong to this group, where the possibility of developing oncology is reduced to zero;
- medium – condylomas are practically absent, however, the virus provokes corrosion of the walls of the cervix, which, in particular
- advanced cases, can lead to the development of cancer cells;
- high – growths do not form, but there is a high probability of oncological complications.
The papilloma virus has distinctive features, which are expressed in the following:
- Once in the human body, the virus “settles” in the deep layers of the skin. Reaching the maximum concentration in the blood, it reaches the skin and manifests itself in the form of characteristic growths.
- Depending on the characteristics of the immune system, the virus, getting into the blood of a person, may not manifest itself for a long time. In such cases, it is possible to identify it quite by accident, conducting tests for the presence of another disease.
- Formations, in most cases, are observed on the genitals and adjacent areas. In rare exceptions, in addition to the genitals, warts can occur in the oral cavity.
- The virus, although it does not have a harmful effect on the fetus, can be transmitted from mother to child.
- The main route of infection is unprotected sexual contact. The chance of getting infected is over 75%. According to medical statistics, papillomavirus is the most contagious sexually transmitted infection.
General symptoms of the disease
The average incubation period after infection is 2–3 months. In some cases, it can be much shorter or, conversely, not make itself felt at all for a long time. After the virus has “acquired” in the body, it begins to appear on the skin with characteristic growths.
Condylomas, in addition to their repulsive appearance, do not cause much concern. Pain sensations appear during a long and advanced stage of the disease, when a fairly large number of growths form.
Without appropriate treatment, condylomatosis is a chronic disease, i.e. the virus itself will never disappear from the blood. The disease is characterized by stages of exacerbation and remissions. At the same time, the infection can reappear after several years, when a person already thinks that he has completely got rid of it.
Diagnostics
Experienced doctors who have repeatedly encountered this problem can diagnose warts only by their appearance. However, to establish an accurate picture of the course of the disease, it is necessary to carry out appropriate laboratory studies. Namely, to examine the composition of the blood for the presence of viruses of this group.
It should be noted that the appearance of neoplasms, in most cases, is associated with weakened immunity. In an absolutely healthy person, the virus can be present in the body for a long time, but does not manifest itself in any way. Accordingly, when genital warts appear on the skin, this is an occasion to be checked by an immunologist.
What tests are needed?
The main and, in fact, defining analysis is the examination of the patient’s blood for the presence of an infection in it. The found DNA molecule of the virus is further examined in order to clearly determine its type.
In addition to a blood test, doctors recommend examining the urogenital microflora for other sexually transmitted diseases. After all, situations are not uncommon when a person is infected with several similar infections at once.
To determine a specific strain, the above information will be sufficient. And depending on the diagnosis, appropriate treatment is prescribed.
Who to contact?
A few decades ago, only venereologists were engaged in the diagnosis of the disease. However, recently, due to the wide distribution, gynecologists and urologists have begun to deal with the papilloma virus.
Based on this, if you suspect this disease, you can contact any of the above specialists.
How to treat?
At the moment, there is no universal method that can completely overcome the disease. The main task of medicine is to increase the patient’s immunity, thereby minimizing the activity of the virus, and eliminating external cosmetic defects on the skin.
Medical treatment
Modern medicine has several effective methods that effectively fight condylomatosis.
- Cryotherapy. It is a procedure where growths are removed with liquid nitrogen. Condyloma is frozen several times in a row for 40-45 seconds. As a result, it dies and spontaneously disappears. The efficiency of this method is more than 85%.
- Exposure to high temperatures. The method is directly opposite to the previous one. The mini-surgery is performed under local anesthesia.
- laser therapy. A laser beam directed at condyloma completely “burns out” it.
- Acid-based drugs. They are applied to the affected areas of the skin. As a result, warts die off, and the further development of the virus stops.
- electromagnetic influence.
Folk remedies
Self-treatment of condylomatosis is highly undesirable, since there is a possibility of developing oncological diseases.
In the initial stages, the following medications can help:
- podophyllotoxin, which prevents the excessive growth of epithelial cells;
- Imiquimod is a topical immune-boosting agent that prevents the development of growths and increases the body’s resistance.
It is advisable not to use the above drugs on your own and carry out treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
Forecast
Timely treatment plays an important role in the successful treatment of the disease. Control over the patient by the doctor should be carried out throughout his entire period. The main goal of therapeutic therapy is to prevent the transition of the disease to a severe stage and to minimize the risk of developing oncology.
Unfortunately, even after successful treatment, the possibility of recurrence of this disease remains. Based on this, a person should periodically take antiviral and immunostimulating drugs. The frequency of courses and the medication itself is prescribed by the attending physician.
With proper prevention, the virus can be completely drowned out. As a result, although it will be in the blood, but without a detrimental effect on the body.
Prevention
The main rule of prevention is careful control of your sexual life. It is advisable to limit yourself from promiscuity and have a permanent sexual partner. Condoms, although they do not give a 100% guarantee, but reduce the risk of infection to a minimum.
Conclusion
It should be remembered that condylomatosis does not appear immediately after a possible infection. The incubation period is usually several months. In addition, obvious symptoms may not be observed for a long time.
Therefore, upon detection of the first signs of the disease (the appearance of growths on the genitals), you should contact a medical institution as soon as possible. Only timely diagnosis and competent treatment will help to overcome the disease without serious consequences for health.
