Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an infectious disease that can be transmitted through saliva, blood, and sexual contact between partners. After being infected, the human body may experience itching and rashes on the genital area, which can cause great harm to physical and mental health. Additionally, HPV is highly contagious, but during its dangerous period, not all symptoms may be present. Testing is necessary to detect the infection.
The dangerous period refers to the time between pathogen infection and the appearance of clinical symptoms of the disease. During this period, although there are no obvious clinical symptoms, positive results can be detected in laboratory experiments.
The infection rate of cutaneous HPV, such as common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts, is widespread, making it difficult to obtain an actual infection rate and resulting in high-risk and low-risk HPV infections of the genital organs. According to surveys, HPV infections account for 15-20% of sexually transmitted diseases worldwide.
Regarding the prevalence of HPV infections in the female reproductive system, a study on national health and nutrient intake conducted from 2003 to 2004 in the UK found that the total HPV infection rate for people aged 14 to 59 was 26%. Therefore, the pressure of HPV infections on women exceeds previous estimates. Clinical epidemiological screening of HPV infections in China has ended with reports of large sample sizes, but the incidence of genital warts caused by HPV infections is rapidly increasing. The estimated prevalence should be the most common sexually transmitted disease, with approximately 13 cases per year of cervical cancer in China. The reported incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer have shown a trend of improvement and development, and cervical cancer is becoming younger in age. It can be expected that HPV infections will cause significant damage in China.
Modes of infection:
1. Sexual transmission
2. Deeper contact
3. Indirect contact: According to contact with the clothes, daily necessities, and articles of the infected person.
4. Iatrogenic infection: Medical staff are not well protected during medical treatment, resulting in their own infections, or sending patients as instructed by medical personnel.
5. Mother-to-child transmission: The deeper contact between the mother’s delivery and the baby.
Low-risk HPV infection:
1. Main manifestations of good skin
Common warts: Millet-sized papules with obvious keratosis on the surface, not only uneven, with thorns on the top and hard texture. The skin lesions can occur alone or in several places and can be vaccinated. More often on hands and feet.
2. Main symptoms of unique location:
Periungual warts: Occurring around fingers, mainly manifested as thickening and keratosis under the nail.
Plantar warts: Occurring on the position of the plantar, the surface of the skin lesion can be regarded as a blood clot and small black spots caused by force.
Filiform warts: Several small warts that appear on the neck and upper eyelids, appearing in the form of soft lustre.
Flat warts: Often found on the face and trunk, 2-5mm flat papules, skin or light brown, with a smooth, annular or ring-like surface. Occasionally produces self-vaccination due to itching or planting along the surface of skin lesions.