Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a common family of viruses that exist in 100 different types. Approximately 40 of the HPVs affect the genital area and cause warts and cancers in the infected part.The HPV can be transmitted from one person to another by skin to skin contact, and mostly affects human skin and moist membranes of the human body like mouth, throat, fingers, feet, nails, and genital areas.
Symptoms:
Generally, when any strain of HPV affect a human being, it is destroyed by the powerful immune system of the body. Thus, HPV infections end without showing any sign and symptom in most cases. However, harmful strains of HPV produce warts appear in different parts of the human body in some cases. These warts vary in size, shape, and color depending on the type of HPV involved in the infection.
Types of warts that may appear after HPV infection:
- Genital Warts: These are bumps of cauliflower like appearance which form on vagina or vulva of females and on the tip of the penis of males. These are transmitted by sexual intercourse.
- Plantar Warts: These are hard, sometimes painful, grain like warts that appear on the sole of the foot.
- Common Warts:These are bumps on the skin that appear on hands, feet, or elbow. Mostly, these are not harmful but can be painful sometimes.
- Flat Warts: These are flat on the top and appear on arms, face, neck and thighs. These are darker than the normal skin colour.
