Q1. What is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)?
HPV is Human Papilloma Virus and this is classified as a DNA virus.
Q2. Is it a sexually transmitted disease?
It is regarded as a sexually transmitted infection rather than disease because it can be transmitted by sexual contact.
It is estimated that the majority of people who have ever been sexually active have had HPV infection at some point, with the vast majority without showing any symptoms of the infection. Thus, one can get infected without any symptoms of the disease manifesting.
Q3. How do you know if you have HPV?
Majority of people with HPV infection do not develop any symptoms and most people are able to eradicate the virus spontaneously by the body's own immunity without any treatment required.
Q4. What are the dangers of HPV?
A minority of women who have persistent infection by the cancer-causing types of HPV run the risk of developing cervical pre-cancers and cancer later on after many years.
Q5. How is it treated?
Only outward manifestation of HPV needs to be treated, such as warts and high-grade pre-cancers. If there are no signs of HPV infection, then there is no need for one to receive treatment.
Q6. Why is the HPV vaccine important?
The vaccine is important because it has been shown to be effective against HPV types 16 amd 18, which are responsible for 70 per cent of all cervical cancers. One of the brands is also targeted against type 6 and 11, which are responsible for 90 per cent of all genital warts.
Q7. Should sexually active women be given the vaccine?
Ideally, the vaccine should be given before the sexual debut, but sexually active women will also benefit because of protection again HPV types 16 and 18.
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