Dr Karthik K S

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a group of viruses living among us and many a times within us. Our body has a good immunity to fight with these viruses and many times, it is cleared from our body by the immunological response.

However sometimes these viruses can be resistive and stay to fight back. Few less harmful are less invasive and can cause skin lesions and warts. Warts can be oral, anal, genital or plantar. The more aggressive variants can further cause cancers of cervix, anus, throat (oropharyngeal), vulva, vagina, and penis.

How do they transmit?

That can be sexually transmitted or skin-to-skin transmission. It can also be transmitted by mother to child during childbirth if the mother was to have genital warts.

This group has many variants and the most problematic ones are identified and numbered. Now we know that HPV16 and 18 are responsible for up to 70 percent of cervical cancers. Then there are other variants like 31,33,45,52 and 58 causing cancers and warts. HPV 6 and 11 are known to cause warts and are common.

When we have identified the cause, we try to prevent and protect. It is very evident, whenever there are viruses causing diseases, we try to have vaccines. Therefore, there are available vaccinations to prevent these infections.

We have vaccines to prevent specifically from HPV 16 and 18 and are called Bivalent vaccines. The vaccines covering HPV 6,11,16 and 18, these vaccines are quadrivalent vaccines. Then there are vaccines also covering 31,33,45,52 and 58 along with 6,11,16 and 18 called nanovalent vaccines.

Vaccination: Who and When?

HPV vaccination is beneficial for both Males and Females as it can protect them from a wide array of diseases including the cancers previously mentioned. It is best taken during the early teen age as the chances of HPV exposure increases after the first decade of life. Typically, it is best given in the age group 11 to 12 years, though it can be given as early as 9 years. The dosage can be 2 doses when used early in life, later ages will need 3 doses. Details of the variants of vaccine available, what ages benefit from vaccination and dosage should be best discussed with your doctor in person.

(Dr Karthik K S is a Surgical Oncologist at KMC Hospital, Mangaluru)