Human Papillomavirus - Research Paper Example

Human papillomavirus types that are not contracted sexually are done so simply by touching the infected area of someone with the virus. For example, the warts that people have on their hands, faces, or feet are caused by the human papillomavirus, though their contraction was not sexual. If an individual with warts on their hands touches another person, that second person can contract the virus. Sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, which is contracted through sexual contact with an infected individual, usually makes itself known in the form of genital warts, though warts around the mouth are also possible.

Most warts that are caused by the human papillomavirus often go away without treatment. There are topical medications and vaccines that can get rid of warts; however, just because the warts have gone, does not mean that the virus has left. Once a person has contracted the virus, it usually remains within their system and is capable of being transmitted to others. Furthermore, while most warts tend to be harmless, genital warts can cause cancer of the cervix, anus, mouth or upper respiratory tract (Doeberitz, 2007).

As such, people with the human papillomavirus that was sexually transmitted need to be careful as to not spread the infection to others and need to seek treatment as soon as possible. The human papillomavirus is important because there are many types of the virus and equally as many ways that it can be contracted. Many people are unaware of how serious the infection is as they assume that warts are not harmful. These people believe that warts are a simple biological trait, like acne. Even if the warts are harmless, they are still part of the human papillomavirus.

When people dismiss warts, they can end up ignoring the ones that are a cause for concern. Furthermore, even though the human papillomavirus is considered a sexually transmitted disease, people remain incautious about their sexual activity. Therefore, the importance of this virus is due to how unaware and uneducated people tend to be. The human papillomavirus is common, and it is capable of affecting a large number of people. The group of people most affected by the virus are individuals who are sexually active and have more than one partner.

These people have an increased risk of carrying the virus and, thus, spreading it to others through sexual contact. People with weakened immune systems are also susceptible to developing human papillomavirus; with weaker immune systems, they become an easier target for many diseases. Also, people with damaged skin, such as cuts and open sores, are put at risk for developing the less serious forms of the human papillomavirus (Dizon & Krychman, 2010). Finally, the infection is most common in children and in adolescents.

Though the sexually transmitted varieties can be found in adults, the more common types can be transmitted among children simply due to the amount of contact that children make with each other. As previously mentioned, there is a significant lack of awareness in regard to the human papillomavirus. In response, medical professionals are making it easier for people to obtain information about the virus. First and foremost, the medical