Have you got vaccinated yet?
Facts on Human Papilloma virus (HPV)
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a large family of virus that infect skin, often causing irregular cell growth or warts. There are more than 60 types of HPV. Some types of the virus are transmitted by nonsexual personal contact and cause common skin warts. Of the sexually transmitted types, some cause cancer and pre-cancerous changes of the cervix, anus, or the skin of the penis or female genitals. Other types cause warts of the genitals or anal region. Genital warts are the most common symptoms of HPV infection. However, most HPV infections do not lead to either warts or cancer; most infections go away by themselves, without causing any symptoms. Prevalence of HPV in Bangladesh
The prevalence of HPV DNA in Bangladesh is 68 percent. In a study of 50 individuals from Bangladesh 17 men and 17 women were HPV DNA positive. 13 of the samples tested negative for human DNA, out of which 10 were HPV DNA positive. Cervical HPV screening and treatment
Invasive cervical cancer resulting from HPV integration is a major women's health concern. In addition, it is common for people, particularly men, to be infected, sometimes without any symptoms. The primary advantage that doctors and patients have in combating HPV cervical cancer is its long course. In most cases, nearly a decade passes between the initial viral infection and the development of cancer. No treatment is recommended for most HPV infections. Treatment is only recommended if there are visible warts or Pap smear abnormalities. No antibiotics or other drugs kill HPV; treatment depends on destroying or removing abnormal tissues, such as warts, pre-cancerous cellular abnormalities, or cancer itself. Even when these tissues are removed or destroyed, HPV often persists in surrounding areas. This is why, although the symptoms of HPV can be treated, HPV infections themselves usually cannot be cured. A new hope on the horizon: HPV vaccines
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions and genital warts due to HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 on June 2006. The vaccine is approved for use in females 9-26 years of age. The vaccine is effective against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause approximately 70 percent of cervical cancers and against HPV types 6 and 11, which cause approximately 90 percent of genital warts. It is a recombinant vaccine (contains no live virus) that is given as three injections over a six-month period. However, females are not protected if they have been infected with that HPV type(s) prior to vaccination, indicating the importance of immunisation before potential exposure to the virus. Also, that does not protect against less common HPV types not included in the vaccine, thus routine and regular pap screening remain critically important to detect precancerous changes in the cervix to allow treatment before cervical cancer develops. The safety of the vaccine was evaluated in approximately 11,000 individuals. The writer is a Pharmacist working with vaccine and biological products.
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