Oral HPV
By: Trever Jones 2006.03.05
What is Oral HPV?
Oral HPV is a growth (or growths) found anywhere in the oral cavity or throat that are caused by certain strains of the Human Papilloma Virus. They may be found anywhere in the mouth, including the tongue, gums, cheeks, or roof of the mouth. It is known to be associated with HPV strains 6, 11 16, 18, and there may be other strains. One variant of the disease may be found in the throat and/or respiratory tract, both in adults and children.
Transmission
There are ongoing studies regarding transmission of oral HPV. Risk factors under investigation:
- Oral sex with a person that has genital warts.
- Use of tobacco and alcohol can damage the cells lining the mouth and may increase the risk of infection.
- Infection with other STDs.
- Mother with genital infection may transfer the virus to infant’s mouth, throat, or respiratory tract during vaginal birth.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms, if any, usually appear sometime within 1-8 months of exposure, but it is possible to be exposed and not develop symptoms for months to years. The virus can live in the skin and mucous membranes without causing symptoms, but still be transmitted to others. Other times, the virus may cause visible warts anywhere in the mouth, throat, or respiratory tract.
- May appear as broad based, soft, moist, pink, white, or red swellings. They can be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large. Some may cluster together forming a cauliflower-like shape.
- Surface may be covered with tiny blunt finger-like projections, contributing to the “cauliflower-like” appearance.
- Seldom raised more than a few millimeters above the surface of the affected area.
- May have a mild semi-transparency on the top surface of the wart itself.
Complications
- Growth of lesions to a size that interferes with eating, breathing, and other quality of life issues.
- Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP)
- This is a disease that may be a complication of oral HPV, or may appear on its own. Growths appear inside the larynx, vocal cords, and trachea (breathing tube), and in extreme cases, the lungs. It affects children and adults. Although rare (approximately 20,000cases in the US), it has increased in recent years. Evidence indicates that in children, it may be transmitted from a mother with genital HPV to child during birth. RRP is not necessarily a sexually transmitted disease.
Diagnosis
- Direct observation
- Microscopic exam of removed tissue
Treatment
- Simple removal with liquid nitrogen (freezing), laser treatment, or cautery (burning). Usually done under local anesthesia. They have a tendency to recur.
- May disappear on their own.
Prevention
- Use of latex or polyurethane condoms correctly every time you have sex reduces the risk of HPV.
- Condoms do not provide complete protection from all STDs. Sores and lesions of other STDs in infected men and women may be present in areas not covered by the condom, resulting in transmission of infection to another person.
- Limit the number of sex partners.