The Human Papillomavirus

754 Words2 Pages

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is currently the most widely spread sexually transmitted disease in the United States, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are over one hundred different types of HPV known at this time, over forty of which can be sexually transmitted. Nearly all sexually active men and women are exposed at some point in their lives. Lifestyle choices such as risky sexual behavior, smoking and alcohol use increase one’s risk of contracting HPV. Additionally, infection with one type of HPV does not prevent infections with other types.
“Approximately 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. About 14 million people become newly infected each year.” (CDC, 2013).
Disease pathophysiology
“Human papillomaviruses are small, double-strained DNA viruses that infect the epithelium and cause common skin warts.” (CDC, 2012). Most HPV infections are asymptomatic and resolve on their own. About forty strains of HPV infect the mucosal epithelium, which can lead to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer was first thought to be linked to sexual activity in the 1960s, and in the early 1980s, in was proven that cervical cancer cells contained HPV DNA. The first publications of this were not until the 1990s. (CDC 2012). Because the detection of HPV was so recent, there are still many unknown factors regarding transmission and treatment.
Signs and Symptoms
It is estimated that 90% of people who contract HPV never develop symptoms, and within two years, the body’s immune system clears the virus. The human papillomavirus in it’s low-risk form can cause warts, but typically the signs of the high-risk types only occur at the cellular level and can not be seen by the naked eye for years or even decad...

... middle of paper ...

...ntion and early detection to protect themselves and their children. It is the role of the healthcare providers, both doctor and nurse, to make sure every patient walking into a medical facility has access to this information that could help save their life.

Works Cited

ACOG Committee on Adolescent Health Care. (2010). Fact Sheet: Tool Kit for Teen Care, Second Edition. Retrieved from http://www.acog.org/~/media/Departments/Adolescent%20Health%20Care/Teen%20Care%20Tool%20Kit/HPVirus.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20131024T0123572538

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Human Papillomavirus: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hpv.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Genital HPV Infection - Fact Sheet. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm#a5

More about The Human Papillomavirus

Open Document