Causative Agent: Papillomavirus

What is the Human Papillomavirus? Commonly known as HPV, it is an infection that spreads through sexual contact. There are over one hundred different types of HPV; several types cause genital warts, while other high risk strands can lead to cancer of the cervix, anus, vagina, and penis. Because HPV is often asymptomatic, many people are unaware of their infection status, and thus, their potential for transmitting the virus to a sexual partner. The significance of the Human Papillomavirus is that fifty percent of Americans who are sexually active will contract it within their lives, and at any given point there are twenty million Americans already infected with it (“By the numbers: HPV Vaccine”).

This year alone approximately 12,360 documented new cases of cervical cancer in the United States and 4,020 deaths according to National Cancer Institute (“Cervical Cancer”, 2014). Cervical cancer is a slow growing cancer that grows in the tissues of the cervix (an organ that connects the uterus and vagina). The disease is predominantly caused by the human papillomavirus infection (HPV). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the HPV virus is so common that nearly all sexually active women and men get it at some point in their lives. Many types of HPV exist, some causing genital warts and potentially cervical cancer. Individuals can get HPV by having unprotected genital to genital touching, oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Anyone who is sexually active can get HPV, and can develop symptoms years after they had sex with someone who is infected, making it difficult to know when they first became infected.

What is the human papillomavirus (HPV)? According to the US government’s National Cancer Institute, human papillomaviruses

They can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the

The most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) is human papillomavirus (HPV) (CDC, 2013). Over half of sexually activity people will become infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime (National Cancer Institute, 2012). HPV can fall into two categories: low-risk HPV and high-risk HPV (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Low-risk HPV, also known as HPV types 6 and 11, cause about 90% of genital warts (National Cancer Institute, 2012). High-risk HPV, also known as HPV types 16 and 18, causes about 70% of cervical cancer (National Cancer Institute, 2012).

In today’s society individuals can be affected by a number of different viruses and infections. A virus is defined as “various numbers of submicroscopic parasites that can infect any animal, plant, or bacteria and often lead to very serious or even deadly diseases”. One of the most widespread viruses alive today is the Human Papillomavirus commonly known as HPV. HPV can be spread during any kind of sexual encounter even without penetration; it is most frequently spread by skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity with the penis, scrotum, vagina, vulva, or anus of the infected individual. There are more than a 100 different types of HPV viruses, which can be considered

Human Papilloma Virus, more commonly known as HPV, is a sexually transmitted virus. It is spread from skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, typically during sexual encounters. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. According to the Immunize Action Coalition, “most sexually active American men and woman will contract at least one type of HPV virus during their lifetime” (A Parent 's Guide to Preteen, 2013, p. 1). To put the numbers in perspective, it infects an estimated seventy-nine million Americans today with approximately fourteen million more people being affected additionally each year (Human

HPV stands for the human palliloma virus. It is estimated that there are around 100 different types of HPV. The HPV virus can cause lesions to develop on the soft palate, tonsils and tongue. It can also increase the risk of certain forms of cancer, including oral cancer and cervical cancer.

II. (MP 2) HPV or human papilloma virus is an umbrella term for a group of over 150 related viruses. Of these 150 around 40 are genital HPV.

Human papilloma virus will cause almost all cases of cervical cancer, and therefore is the highest risk factor. There are many factors that will determine if HPV will lead to cervical cancer, HPV directly affects and transforms either or both the deepest layer of the mucous epithelial cells and more superficial layers. Targeting the receptors found in the layers of the stratified squamous epithelium. This is where the virus will proliferate into more differentiated cells to spawn offspring virus. The virus replication is what causes the skin characteristics of a wart. With the help of a pap smear, we are able to investigate if cervical epithelial cells are healthy and normal or determine which point in dysplasia they are at in transforming to cancerous cells. The HPV virus does not need a host to survive, and can survive in low and high temperatures.

HPV is a class of more than 150 related viruses. Each HPV virus in this vast body receives a number which is called its HPV type. HPV is termed for warts (papillomas) some HPV types can cause. Some other HPV types can lead to cancer. HPV cancers consist of cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. HPV infection can also cause cancer in the

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a double -stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) virus that only infects humans with an attraction to both cutaneous and mucosal surfaces such as the cervix, anus, tonsil, and oropharynx (Clark, 2013). HPV is a type of oncogenic virus that goes into the cells and can cause several diseases. Over the years, research has surfaced connecting genital HPV to several types of cancer. There are over a hundred strains of HPV but the most high risk strains, 16 and 18, have been shown to cause vulvar, vaginal, anal, and the most concerning, cervical cancer (Chan, Ng, & Wong, 2012). Genital HPV

The human papillomavirus is a type of virus that is spread through skin to skin contact with an infected person. It is very common. In fact, it is estimated that 20 million people in America have been infected with the HPV virus. This virus may not produce any symptoms.

Human Papilloma Virus, known to most people as HPV, is an infectious disease that has become one of top causes of cervical cancer in women. With shocking surge in HPV prevalence, researchers are encouraged to discover more about this virus and how it leads to cervical cancer. Until recently, not many knew what HPV was; there hasn’t been enough research conducted on the virus. In fact, HPV was not significant enough to be taught in the Sexual Education classrooms as an Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). Years of research yielded information about how one contracts the virus, the symptoms or lack of symptoms, treatment and prevention for HPV.

The viruses are called papilloma virus because they cause warts, or papilloma. HPV is common. Hearty all sexually active