HPV in man: treatment prevents the appearance of penile cancer

How frequent are HPV cases in the office! The disease is already considered an epidemic due to its alarming growth, especially among young people, although it is easy to prevent. Considered an STD or sexually transmitted through dozens of viruses, it still presents obsolete methods of treatment. HPV or verrucous lesion is treated in a prehistoric way, through a chemical cauterization or electrocautery (cauterization with electric scalpel), since few remedies are capable of acting on the small particles of the virus, much smaller than a bacterium . Imiquimode is the only drug capable of acting on the virus by stimulating an immune response in the body.

Many infected people do not know they have contracted the virus or are passing one or more types of HPV viruses to a partner during intercourse

The cure of the disease, moreover, depends mainly on our immune system: in 90% of cases, our immune system eliminates HPV within 2 years without symptoms, although it can not be guaranteed that people who have had HPV do not will develop other health problems in the future.

The risk of contamination is the same between the sexes, but in men the genital warts are more evident, especially in cases where the skin is affected by the virus, which facilitates detection. The so-called subclinical lesions or micro-lesions can not be seen with the naked eye, since they affect the deeper layer of the skin and it is at this level that the disease must be treated. Even when HPV is confirmed by the presence of warts, treatment can only be started after a biopsy penis or hybridization test to find out what type of virus is causing the symptoms.

To date, more have been identified of 200 different types of virus, subdivided into species, with around 40 specific types of HPV that can infect the genital areas of men (as well as women). Among them, five are oncogenic, that is, they can cause less common cancers, including cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus and oropharynx (the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils). Penile cancer is very prevalent among the poorest sections of the population, as hygiene, frequent use of condoms and regular checkups are the best form of prevention. In the United States, for example, the incidence rate is 1 per 100,000 population.

HPV is transmitted by genital contact, usually during vaginal and / or anal sex, but can also be transmitted during oral sex When the HPV virus invades a cell, it usually takes 3 to 6 months for an infection to become active and the disease clinically variable. The virus can infect areas that are not covered by the condom, such as the pubic region in men. In many cases, in fact, the warts are seen in the pubis.

But it can occur that the non-oncogenic virus takes years to develop, as well as those that will cause cancer. Many infected people do not know they have contracted the virus or are passing one or more types of HPV viruses to a partner during intercourse. Therefore, medical examinations should be routine for both partners. Specific tests and treatments should be considered only when there is concrete evidence of the disease, such as the appearance of the wart.

Vaccines

Vaccines are relatively new in the therapeutic arsenal but are effective in preventing viral proliferation in the body ; are safe and can protect men and women against some of the more common types of HPV, including oncogenic viruses. They are given in three doses over a six-month period and should all be taken for maximum protection and are most effective when administered to young people aged 11 to 12 years. The vaccine is also recommended for homosexuals and bisexuals and for men and women who have compromised immune systems (including people living with HIV / AIDS, human immunodeficiency virus ).

How dental health and heart disease are connected

It is quite common to hear that oral health is vital to overall health. More than 80% of the American population, for example, live with periodontal or gingival problem that is often not diagnosed. This is due to the fact that the patient does not go to the dentist because the teeth appear to be fine, and medical appointments rarely focus on oral health.

(Health)

SUS to offer thrombophilia examination in São Paulo

The Unified Health System - SUS now offers the women of São Paulo (SP) the test capable of detecting thrombophilia, which is the tendency that one has to suffer a thrombosis. This condition generates the formation of blood clots in one or more veins located in the lower part of the body, usually in the legs.

(Health)