​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Condyloma acuminata, or genital warts ( Human Papillomavirus (HPV))

​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Condyloma acuminata, or genital warts ( Human Papillomavirus (HPV))

Human papillomavirus (HPV), primarily types 6 and 11, is the cause of this condition. sexually transmitted. There are about 100 distinct HPV genotypes that have been found and classified as low- or high-risk carcinogenic forms. High-risk types (HPV 16 and 18) are closely associated with cervical cancer, while low-risk variants (HPV 6 and 11) cause benign genital warts.

HPV 6 and 11 are benign viruses that are linked to external genital warts. Common warts on the hands and feet are caused by HPV types 1, 2, and 4.
When a child is infected in the birth canal of a mother who has genital warts, HPV 6 and 11 cause benign laryngeal papillomas.
Anogenital cancer and certain head and neck cancer locations are linked to oncogenic HPV 16 and 18.

 Targeting basal epithelial cells, HPV enters the body through skin fissures, mucosal surface rips, or lacerations during sexual activity. The infection stays localized and has the potential to cure on its own, stay dormant, or, depending on the type of HPV, develop to dysplasia and cancer.
Cell-mediated immunity eliminates and regulates HPV infections.

Clinical diagnosis is made for condyloma acuminata. In order to diagnose cervical cancer, a Papanicolaou (Pap) smear evaluation of cervical cytology is considered the gold standard. Low-risk and high-risk oncogenic forms of HPV are distinguished via PCR or DNA hybridization using probes unique to that type.
 

Warts can be removed surgically (by cryotherapy or laser therapy) or topically (by using chemical agents such as trichloroacetic acid or podophyllin). Imiquimod is applied topically to treat genital warts. It is an inducer of interferon and other cytokines. There is a recombinant HPV vaccination that offers protection against HPV 6 and 11, which cause 90% of instances of genital warts, and HPV 16 and 18, which cause about 70% of cases of cervical cancer.