Contents:
- Medical Video: Human Papillomavirus | HPV | Nucleus Health
- How can HPV infect the mouth?
- Who is at risk for HPV infection in the mouth
- What are the consequences if you get HPV in your mouth?
- What are the characteristics of oral HPV?
- What should I do if I get oral HPV?
- How to avoid HPV infection in the mouth?
Medical Video: Human Papillomavirus | HPV | Nucleus Health
Human papilloma virus or HPV is the type of virus that is most often transmitted through sexual intercourse. Chances are, sexually active people will experience HPV infection once in their lifetime. HPV can be easily transmitted because it only requires touch between the skin, including the mouth.
How can HPV infect the mouth?
HPV infection in the mouth is known as oral HPV. The virus can easily infect when the oral mucosa cannot resist exposure to the virus, such as due to a wound or gap in the mucous surface.
The risk of transmission of oral HPV will tend to be very high when there is touch on the oral mucosa, such as when having oral sex or kissing, especially with changing partners.
Even so, there are still many other factors that can cause a person to get HPV infection in the mouth. Some other habits that can interfere with oral health are smoking because it causes the oral mucosa to be more susceptible to HPV infection from the environment. In addition, HPV has about more than 100 virus subtypes, making it easier to infect.
Until now, it is still unknown how transmission of HPV infection can occur. Several studies have been conducted but the results tend to contradict each other.
Who is at risk for HPV infection in the mouth
Based on statistical data in the United States, HPV infection in the mouth is more experienced by men. While other factors that can become triggers are:
- Frequent oral sex and other activities with the mouth
- Tend to change partners or have around 20 or more partners
- Smoking - hot smoke exhaled from the mouth causes the oral mucosa to be more vulnerable and can cause open sores
- Drink alcoholic drinks often
What are the consequences if you get HPV in your mouth?
Oral HPV can occur without causing symptoms, so the infected person is not aware of it. HPV infections can cause signs of damage to the mouth or throat, but tend to be rare. However, oral HPV is strongly associated with oral cancer or oropharyngeal cancer.
About two of the three cancer cells in oropharyngeal cancer have HPV DNA with the most common sub-types being HPV-1. Oropharyngeal cancer can occur in various parts of the mouth starting from the tongue, tonsils and pharynx can be the site of the emergence of cancer cells triggered by HPV.
The initial symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer are:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Continuous pain in the part of the mouth adjacent to the ear
- Bleeding cough
- Sudden weight loss
- Enlarged lymph glands
- Continuous sore throat
- Swelling around the cheeks
- Swelling of the neck
- Often experience hoarseness
What are the characteristics of oral HPV?
Until now, there are no tests that can be done to detect HPV infection in the mouth. However, the doctor may be able to find a disturbance in the oral mucosa, such as the presence of a lesion that has no known cause This can act as an early detection effort before further examination, with biopsy examination of the mucous portion of the mouth that has lesions.
If HPV is found, it can be useful for early treatment or treatment of the appearance of cancer cells.
What should I do if I get oral HPV?
Most oral HPV will disappear without causing health problems. If wart growth is found on the oral mucosa, the possible treatment that can be done is by removing it. Good with mild surgery, freezing the part overgrown with warts (cryotherapy) or by drug injection.
Knowing whether HPV is present or not if you have a tumor or cancer is also needed for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer. This is needed to prevent the recurrence of abnormal cell growth.
How to avoid HPV infection in the mouth?
Prevention of oral HPV can be done by HPV vaccination as well as several efforts to reduce the risk of infection, including:
- Limit the number of sexual partners
- Make sure your partner is free of HPV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases
- Avoid oral sex with strangers
- Using condoms when interacting sexually
- Check your oral health regularly, especially when you often pass oral sex
- Check your own oral health by noting abnormal signs in the oral mucosa.
