In this article, we will cover the following:
- what are papillomas;
- what is the reason for its formation.
- where they are more common in men and women;
- typical papillomas.
Papillomas are benign neoplasms located on the skin, mucous membranes. The reason for its formation is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted in several ways. The appearance of formations depends on the type of virus that caused them.
Transmission paths
The human papillomavirus is transmitted by:
- During sexual intercourse, including anal, oral-genital.
- Domestic. The microorganism can exist in personal belongings, personal hygiene items, infected towels. Penetrates easily through scratches and abrasions on the skin.
- During labor from mother to child.
Possibly autoinfection if the virus is transferred from one area of the body to another, which usually occurs during shaving, hair removal.
The incubation period (the period from the time when HPV enters the body until signs of pathology appear) varies from several weeks to several years.
Papillomas in the body appear more frequently in the event of illness, pregnancy, alcohol abuse, psycho-emotional stress, hypothermia, accompanied by a decrease in immune defense. The incidence of these formations in men and women is the same.
Human papillomavirus: types
Depending on the risk of oncological skin pathology, mucous papillomaviruses belong to the following groups:
- Low oncogenic risk (HPV types 3, 6, 11, 13, 32, 34, 72, 73, 40–44, 51, 61).
- Medium oncogenic risk (HPV types 52, 56, 58, 30, 35, 45).
- High risk of developing malignant processes (HPV types 50, 59, 16, 18, 64, 68, 70, 31, 33, 39).
Microorganisms with a low degree of cancer risk cause benign growths on the skin, mucous membranes.
Types of papillomas
Simple
They are also called common, common. These growths are most often caused by HPV types 26-29, 77, 63, 41.
A tingling and burning sensation appears anywhere on the body. Later, the growth of a spherical formation is noticed, the surface of which gradually becomes rough. At first, the tumor is the color of the skin, then it darkens. The size of the papilloma on the body is 1 mm to cm
These neoplasms are unique, multiple. In the latter case, the daughter's small papillomas are located around the mother's, forming first, usually the largest of all.
Its location is the back of the hands, the fingers, the spaces between them, the chin area, the edges of the lips. There are papillomas on the neck. The child's knees are affected because children are often crawling and are infected by small skin lesions.
Plant
People with these formations are infected with HPV types 1, 2, 4. The growths are similar to dry calluses, but have several characteristic differences.
The skin pattern is preserved in the calluses, absent on the surface of the papillomas, the latter are smooth. The formation caused by the papillomavirus is painful, the unpleasant sensations intensify when wearing tight shoes. Within the papilloma, black dots are noticeable, which are absent in the calluses.
Neoplasms sometimes self-destruct, which is more common in children. Sometimes small bubbles are visible around the neoplasm. The latter become new papillomas over time.
Flat papillomas
Oval, elongated and rounded growths rise above the skin level by 1–2 millimeters. Flat papillomas are located around the mouth, on the face and in the upper half of the body. Sometimes papillomas form on the neck.
There are data on papilloma on the lips, cervix in girls, penis in men, in the rectum, close to the anus. These formations are located in groups, they merge with each other. Smooth skin-colored papillomas, sometimes slightly darker than the rest of the skin, are formed under the influence of 10, 49, 28 varieties of papillomavirus.
Chained
If people notice that small papillomas have appeared on the neck, most of the time the tumors are filamentous. The second name of the formations isacrochordus. The latter are caused by 2, 7 types of HPV.
In the initial stage, the papillomas on the neck look like small yellowish seals, so the lumps stretch, become rough, take on an elongated, rounded shape, similar to a thread. A distinguishing feature of a similar papilloma on the neck is a thin leg.
Most often, acrochord is formed in men and women over 40 years of age. Growths also occur on the skin of the upper eyelids, armpits, mammary glands, in the intimate area.
Pointed
The formation data is calledwarts,are caused by 6, 11, 44, 42, 54, 51, 55, 89 types of human papillomavirus in women and men.
Condylomata are small, single and multiple skin-colored bumps, located on the female and male genitals, around the anus. There are papillomas in the vagina, small lips, cervix. In men, condylomata are located in the foreskin, head of the penis, inside the urethra.
Separate elements sometimes merge with each other, a tumor-like formation appears, outwardly resembling a rooster comb, cauliflower. Neoplasms are characterized by very rapid growth, and a large lesion can form in a few hours.
The pathology has a recurrent course. It is more severe with concomitant sexually transmitted infections of the urogenital tract (for example, chlamydia, gonorrhea, mycoplasmosis).
Condylomas that form in the cervix, especially within the cervical canal, are most dangerous during pregnancy. Hormonal changes stimulate rapid growth, followed by tissue degradation and secondary infections.
Papillomas in the mouth, larynx
Its appearance is associated with the activity of papillomaviruses 6, 7, 11, 72, 73, 57, 32 types. Formations are rounded formations on a thin or wide base. The mucous membrane around them is pale pink, without any visible pathological changes. The surface of the lumps is light pink, off-white.
Neoplasms are single, multiple and painless when pressed. They are located at the bottom of the oral cavity, posterior part of the tongue, hard, soft palate, laryngeal mucosa, the size varies from 2 mm to 2 cm.
Excessive growth of the mucous membrane of the mouth will bleed if bitten and blackens as a result of bloodshed. The state of health in the presence of such a disease does not deteriorate, the oral cavity opens freely.
When in a single adult they grow on the soft palate, tonsils, on the glottis, there is a sensation of the presence of a foreign body, cough, the voice becomes hoarse. If the lesions become multiple, these symptoms are exacerbated.
In children, pathological growths are often bilateral, their occurrence is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Difficulty in breathing in, exhaling, arising after physical exertion and then at complete rest.
- Coughing after running, playing too much.
- Suffocating attacks withstenosisof the larynx (pathological narrowing that prevents air from entering the lower respiratory tract).
The appearance of externally different papillomas is associated with infection by various types of HPV. To remove neoplasms, you must consult a doctor. This should be done as quickly as possible if the papillomas are multiple, rapidly increase in size, cause discomfort and are constantly injured.