Yes, the wart virus causes cancer. In fact, it would be more accurate to ask this question asWhich wart virus causes cancer?, because there are many types of wart viruses and some of them have been found directly related to cancer.
Wart Human Papilloma Virus It is a skin disease caused by a group of viruses called (HPV). More than 100 different types of this virus group have been identified. The virus settles in the skin, vagina, anal area, mouth and throat mucosa covering the human body.
How is HPV transmitted?
The wart virus settles in the cells on the skin and mucosa surface. and causes abnormal tissue growth. It is transmitted from infected people to others through direct skin-to-skin contact. Tissue damage to the skin increases the possibility of infection. Genital warts are transmitted from one patient to another through sexual contact and shared sexual apparatus. It is accepted that the virus is not transmitted through hugs, towels, clothing, cutlery and toilet bowls. Some people who acquire the virus may not develop the disease, or wart lesions may appear months or even years later after exposure. It is possible for sick people to infect other people before the wart lesion occurs or after the lesion disappears.
Which diseases does HPV cause?
1-Verruca vulgaris;
They are lesions in the form of skin growths caused by approximately 60-70 types of HPV virus that settle in skin areas other than the genital area. These are the classical warts we know and they are called verruca vulgaris in medicine.
2-Genitai wart;
Approximately 30-40 types of HPV virus settle in the genital area and cause genital warts. It causes skin growths called warts. Viruses that settle in the genital area are transmitted to other people through sexual intercourse and contact and fall into the group of sexually transmitted diseases. It causes numerous lesions with a raised cauliflower appearance, ranging from 1 millimeter to 3-5 centimeters from the skin. This is called Condyloma Aquminata in medicine. The cause of 90% of these lesions is HPV Type 6 and HPV Type 11.
Condyloma
3- Genital cancers;
Some types of HPV do not cause any lesions and the patient may not realize that he or she is infected. At least 5 types of these are cancers It causes . 70% of cervical cancer is caused by HPV Type 16 and Type 18 viruses.
Which cancers does HPV cause?
The most common type of cancer caused by the HPV virus iscervical cancer. Apart from this, it is also known to cause cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus, mouth and throat area.
How is HPV diagnosed?
strong>
After being infected with the HPV virus, it causes cauliflower-like lesions on the skin or mucosa, called condylomas, which grow from 1 millimeter to 3-5 centimeters. It causes classic wart lesions on the skin outside the genital area. Sometimes it does not cause any lesions and the patient does not realize that he or she has the virus. However, there is no blood test developed for its diagnosis. For this reason;
For women, a test called vaginal smear is performed once a year for diagnosis and follow-up, and it is ensured that HPV is diagnosed and whether there is a tendency towards cancer.
In men, if there is a condyloma lesion, it is diagnosed definitively by clinical findings and the removal and examination of the lesion, but if there is no lesion, it is not possible to make the diagnosis.
How can we be protected from HPV?
HPV is transmitted through contact, so contact with people carrying the virus needs to be avoided, but this is not always possible. During protected sexual intercourse (condom, etc.), condoms do not provide full protection as lesions may occur outside the genital organ. By avoiding polygamous relationships, the possibility of contacting sick individuals and thus the possibility of contracting the disease decreases.
Is there a vaccine for genital warts?
Currently, vaccine studies for genital warts are reduced. continues. A vaccine called Gerdasil has currently been developed and used. The vaccine provides protection against HPV Types 16 and 18, which are the most common cancer-causing viruses, and HPV Types 6 and 11, which are the most common causes of genital warts. It is routinely applied to 12-13 year old girls in England. Gerdasil vaccineis not yet an ideal method of protection as it does not provide protection against types other than the 4 viruses in question. However, both cancer and Vaccination is recommended as it provides great protection against genital warts. After vaccination, the protection period of the vaccine is approximately 10 years.
Read: 0
