Genital warts | |
---|---|
Other names | Condylomata acuminata, venereal warts, anal warts, anogenital warts [1] |
File:SOA-Condylomata-acuminata-around-anus.jpg | |
Severe case of genital warts around the anus of a female | |
Specialty | Infectious disease |
Symptoms | Small bumps of genital skin, varying sizes and shapes, typically protrude out, burning, itch [2] |
Usual onset | 1-8 months following exposure [3] |
Causes | HPV types 6 and 11 [4] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, can be confirmed by biopsy [4] |
Differential diagnosis | Molluscum contagiosum, skin tags, condyloma latum, squamous cell carcinoma [5] |
Prevention | HPV vaccine, condoms [3] [6] |
Treatment | Medications, cryotherapy, surgery [4] |
Medication | Podophyllin, imiquimod, trichloroacetic acid [4] |
Frequency | ~1% (US) [3] |
Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). [1] They typically appear as small bumps on the skin of the penis, vulva, cervix and anus. [2] They may be flat or project out from the surface of the skin, and their color may vary; brownish, white, pale yellow, pinkish-red, or gray. [1] [2] [5] There may be a few individual warts or several, either in a cluster or merged together in a cauliflower shape. [2] [7] Usually they cause few symptoms, but can occasionally be painful. [4] They can be itchy or burn. [2] Typically they appear one to eight months following exposure. [3] Warts are the most easily recognized symptom of genital HPV infection. [3]
HPV types 6 and 11 are the typical cause of genital warts. [4] It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, usually during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. [3] Diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and can be confirmed by biopsy. [4] The types of HPV that cause cancer are not the same as those that cause warts. [8]
Some HPV vaccines can prevent genital warts as may condoms. [3] [6] Treatment options include creams such as podophyllin, imiquimod, and trichloroacetic acid. [4] Cryotherapy or surgery may also be an option. [4] After treatment warts often resolve within six months. [3] Without treatment, in up to a third of cases they resolve on their own. [3]
About 1% of people in the United States have genital warts. [3] Many people, however, are infected and do not have symptoms. [3] Without vaccination nearly all sexually active people will get some type of HPV at one point in their lives. [8] [9] The disease has been known at least since the time of Hippocrates in 300 BC. [10]
Genital warts | |
---|---|
Other names | Condylomata acuminata, venereal warts, anal warts, anogenital warts [1] |
File:SOA-Condylomata-acuminata-around-anus.jpg | |
Severe case of genital warts around the anus of a female | |
Specialty | Infectious disease |
Symptoms | Small bumps of genital skin, varying sizes and shapes, typically protrude out, burning, itch [2] |
Usual onset | 1-8 months following exposure [3] |
Causes | HPV types 6 and 11 [4] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, can be confirmed by biopsy [4] |
Differential diagnosis | Molluscum contagiosum, skin tags, condyloma latum, squamous cell carcinoma [5] |
Prevention | HPV vaccine, condoms [3] [6] |
Treatment | Medications, cryotherapy, surgery [4] |
Medication | Podophyllin, imiquimod, trichloroacetic acid [4] |
Frequency | ~1% (US) [3] |
Genital warts are a sexually transmitted infection caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). [1] They typically appear as small bumps on the skin of the penis, vulva, cervix and anus. [2] They may be flat or project out from the surface of the skin, and their color may vary; brownish, white, pale yellow, pinkish-red, or gray. [1] [2] [5] There may be a few individual warts or several, either in a cluster or merged together in a cauliflower shape. [2] [7] Usually they cause few symptoms, but can occasionally be painful. [4] They can be itchy or burn. [2] Typically they appear one to eight months following exposure. [3] Warts are the most easily recognized symptom of genital HPV infection. [3]
HPV types 6 and 11 are the typical cause of genital warts. [4] It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, usually during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. [3] Diagnosis is generally based on symptoms and can be confirmed by biopsy. [4] The types of HPV that cause cancer are not the same as those that cause warts. [8]
Some HPV vaccines can prevent genital warts as may condoms. [3] [6] Treatment options include creams such as podophyllin, imiquimod, and trichloroacetic acid. [4] Cryotherapy or surgery may also be an option. [4] After treatment warts often resolve within six months. [3] Without treatment, in up to a third of cases they resolve on their own. [3]
About 1% of people in the United States have genital warts. [3] Many people, however, are infected and do not have symptoms. [3] Without vaccination nearly all sexually active people will get some type of HPV at one point in their lives. [8] [9] The disease has been known at least since the time of Hippocrates in 300 BC. [10]