How HPV type 6 threatens women, what kind of papillomavirus it is: symptoms and treatment

Papilloma virus is an anthroponotic pathogen, and it can only be infected by contact. Once in the human body, the virus affects the basal layer of the epithelial tissue, and the virus can exist in two forms: episomal (outside the cell chromosome) benign; introsomal (integrating into the cell genome) malignant.

It is possible to identify the intrasomal form of the virus, as well as to determine the presence of changes in the cellular structure, only with the help of histological examination and colposcopy. HPV 6 strain is a virus that has a low oncogenic level, and, therefore, does not lead to the development of malignant tumors.

Features of the papilloma virus, what is it all about?

For women, the diagnosis of HPV type 6 sounds like a sentence, however, you should not be very worried and scared. Despite the fact that some types of papillomavirus have a high oncogenic index, it is possible to stop the active reproduction of the virus by strengthening the immune system and taking antiviral drugs.

Type 6 papillomavirus is considered one of the most harmless strains of this virus, since the risk of developing cancer in this case is very low, and this pathology is rarely accompanied by complications. This is due to the fact that the activation of this type of virus requires more provoking factors than for the vigorous activity of other varieties of the virus. In addition, HPV 6 does not change the structure of DNA, which means that the consequences of viral damage will be minimal.

Genital warts that HPV 6 provokes can be of different types:

• keratoric appearance, most often appears on dry skin;
• pointed warts, formed on the keratinized epidermis;
• Bushke-Levenshtein warts – giant warts that look like a sponge;
• endourithral condylomas – intraurethral formations;
• genital genital warts.

Flat formations have a higher oncogenic index, but with type 6 of the virus they appear in rare cases.

How is papillomavirus transmitted in women and men?

HPV can enter the human body in the following ways:

1. Unprotected sexual contact, due to which the manifestations of the virus are observed in women and men in the genital area. Dermatologists and venereologists classify this disease as a sexually transmitted disease.
2. From mother to fetus both in utero and during childbirth. However, the risk is not very high, so a woman in labor with papillomavirus is not given a caesarean section without special indications.
3. Household way. HPV type 6 can be obtained in a public sauna or restroom. Infection can occur when a person has open scratches and wounds through which the virus can enter the body.
4. There have been cases of self-infection with the virus when shaving, manicure or pedicure.

After the virus enters the bloodstream, it does not immediately begin to manifest itself. The incubation period can last from several months to several years.

The impetus for activation is:

• weakening of the immune system, so often pointed papillomas can appear with protracted illnesses, as well as during pregnancy;
• hormonal changes;
• prolonged stress;
• alcohol abuse and smoking;
• taking hormonal drugs;
• long-term use of certain drugs.

Symptoms of the disease

Most often, genital warts appear on the genitals. Such formations are typical for women of reproductive age, since the peak of the virus development occurs at the age of up to 30 years. In appearance, the formations are similar to the cauliflower inflorescence, sometimes they are compared with a cockscomb.

The color of genital warts is corporal, and their structure is based on connective tissue. In addition to the labia, these formations can be located in the vagina, in the cervical region, perianal or urethral region.

The growth of warts is quite fast, the infection is accompanied by itching, discomfort during sexual intercourse, and sometimes an unpleasant odor (when the cells of the formation disintegrate). In some cases, condylomas can lead to various destructive changes in the mucosa, such a pathology is considered a 1st degree of dysplasia.

Diagnostic methods, virus DNA detection

Diagnosis of genital warts is as follows:

1. Medical examination.
2. Colposcopy to examine in detail the mucous membrane of the cervical region and vagina.
3. Cytological examination of biomaterial from the affected area; It must be said that it is impossible to identify papiomavirus in this way, this study only shows changes in the epithelium at the cell level.
4. PCR provides information about the DNA particles of the virus, and determines not only the presence of a viral agent, but also its type.
5. Immunological study.

Only a complete and comprehensive examination of the pathology can give a detailed picture of the disease, and, therefore, choose the most correct approach to treatment.

Treatment Methods

Papillomavirus is an infection that remains in the human body for life, get rid of the virus  , perhaps only dulling its manifestations. In order to achieve the transition of the acute form of the disease into a latent one, it is possible to use the following methods:

• drug treatment;
• surgical removal of neoplasms;
• folk remedies.

Medical treatment

Antiviral drugs have a destructive effect on the structure of the virus and disrupt the process of infection reproduction. Preparations of this group can be produced in different forms, since the course of the disease and the localization of formations are different. It can be tablets, suppositories, injections, gels, ointments, creams.

The tablet form and injections are considered more effective, as for creams and ointments, they should be used topically in the presence of formations on the mucous membranes or skin.

Of the tablets, the following are most often prescribed:

• Valtarex.
• Groprinosin.
• Famvir.
• Amiksin.

Taking these drugs does not have any effect on the condylomas that have appeared, and in order to save the patient from them, local remedies are prescribed:

• Ferezol.
• Supercleaner.
• Dermovit.
• Lapis pencil.
• Solkvagin.
• Codylin.
• Oxolinic ointment.
• CryoPharm.
• Epigen .
• Viferon.
• Panavir and others.

If condylomas are localized in the vagina, suppositories are prescribed to prevent the inflammatory process, to strengthen local immunity, and also to prevent the appearance of new formations:

• Genferon.
• Viferon.
• Polyoxidonium .

To suppress the activity of the virus, immunomodulators are prescribed:

• Interferon.
• KIPferon.
• Reaferon.
• Cycloferon .
• Leukinferon.
• Immunofan.
• Neovir.

These drugs affect the entire body as a whole, and can cause allergic reactions, so only a qualified specialist can prescribe them.

Surgical methods for removing genital warts

Removal of genital warts is carried out using:

• Radioknife.
• laser. Laser radiation destroys condylomas, a scar remains at the site of formation.
• liquid nitrogen. Thus, it is possible to get rid of small formations, after several freezing sessions, the growths die off, and the removal site heals after a couple of weeks.
• scalpel.

It is very dangerous to remove warts on your own with the help of improvised means; only a doctor should carry out these manipulations.

Surgical removal of genital warts must necessarily be combined with drug treatment, because if the virus is not deactivated, pathological formations will reappear very soon.

Removal of growths in pregnant women is carried out only in case of urgent need, most often they return to this issue after the baby is born. If the patient has contraindications for surgical removal of formations, special chemical compounds are used that have a destructive effect on growths.

Treatment at home

Humanity has known about the papillomavirus for a long time, so there are many folk remedies to combat neoplasms, here are some of them:

1. Celandine juice. The stem of the plant is cut at the root, juice is extracted from it, which is used to cauterize the growths. The course of treatment is three days. It is important to understand that celandine is a poisonous plant, so you need to use it as carefully as possible.
2. Rowan berries. Ripe berries are ground into porridge, and applied as a lotion to the affected area.
3. Some patients respond positively to the treatment of genital warts with chicken egg protein. With this tool, the growths are lubricated several times a day for 3 days.
4. Lemon peel. Grind the zest, add 6% vinegar – 100 ml, leave for two weeks, strain and lubricate the warts.

Disease prevention

To prevent the development of the papillomavirus, you must:

• observe personal hygiene;
• strengthen the immune system;
• be extremely selective in sexual relations;
• use barrier contraception.

However, such measures cannot 100% protect against the penetration of a viral agent into the blood. The only guaranteed preventive measure is vaccination against certain strains of the virus. But, it is advisable to get vaccinated only before sexual intercourse. Before vaccination, it is necessary to pass an analysis that confirms the absence of the virus in the blood. If the virus is already in the body, the vaccine is useless.

The maximum duration of the effectiveness of vaccination against papillomavirus strain 6 is 18 years from the date of its receipt. But some experts are confident that antibodies can continue to protect a vaccinated person throughout life. The recommended age for vaccination is 16 years. The vaccine is administered into the body in three stages – on the day of injection, two months later and six months later. If one of the stages is skipped, the result of the entire vaccination is reduced to zero.

Despite the fact that today there are various and quite effective methods of dealing with papillomas, it will not work to eliminate the virus from the human body, which means that relapses are possible. If the virus manifests itself in one of the sexual partners, treatment of the second partner is mandatory.

The papillomavirus 6 strain, although it does not transform into oncology, can significantly complicate a person’s life, therefore it is not recommended to ignore this pathology – it is necessary to accurately diagnose the type of virus and begin treatment adequate to the situation.