Perianal condylomas are warts in the area around the anus opening. Rashes can also spread inside the rectum. In this case, doctors talk about anal condylomas. Such formations are of viral origin. The disease in which warts form is called papillomatosis. This is one of the sexually transmitted pathologies . How to get rid of genital warts?
Causes
Perianal condylomas result from infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many strains of this microorganism. HPV infection of genotype 6 or 11 most often causes warts in this area.
Papilloma viruses are often oncogenic and, without treatment, can lead to the development of malignant tumors. However, HPV types 6 and 11 have low oncogenicity, and the likelihood of genital warts passing into oncological formations is extremely small.
Transmission ways
Most often, these types of HPV are sexually transmitted. The infection spreads through any kind of unprotected contacts (anal, vaginal, oral). Many people are carriers of this virus. In rare cases, infection occurs through the household. You can get an infection using someone else’s bedding, clothes, and towels. The virus is also transmitted while visiting the pool or solarium. Very often, anal and perianal condylomas are combined with rashes in the genital area. In this case, a pregnant woman can infect the baby during childbirth. In an infected newborn, condylomas are observed in the throat and larynx.
Provocative factors
Condylomas of the perianal region do not appear immediately after infection. The incubation period can be very long - from several weeks to several years. All this time, the virus is inactive in human cells. Perianal condylomas occur only when a person's immunity decreases. This can occur under the influence of the following adverse factors:
- hypothermia;
- vitamin deficiency;
- pregnancy and childbirth;
- stress
- smoking and excessive drinking;
- after suffering a cold;
- after exacerbation of chronic diseases.
All these conditions and diseases lead to a decrease in the body's defense and activation of the virus.
Pathogenesis
The papilloma virus enters the body when the mucous membranes of an infected person come in contact with the patient’s skin. The causative agent enters the dermis through small wounds and cuts. The microorganism can be in the deep layers of the skin and not make itself felt. With a decrease in immunity, HPV begins to multiply actively and reaches the surface of the skin. On the epidermis, rashes appear in the form of genital warts. Most often, primary rashes form on the mucous membrane of the genitals. Then they grow and go to the anus. So there are perianal condylomas.
It is important to remember that a person is contagious since the appearance of rashes. However, the patient does not always know about his disease. Warts can be located not only on the skin around the anus, but inside the anus. In this case, they are not visible, they can be detected only during a medical examination.
Appearance of rashes
When HPV is infected, 2 types of rashes appear on the skin and mucous membrane. They differ from each other in appearance:
- Genital warts of the perianal region. They look like papilla-shaped warts on a leg, towering above the skin. Their color usually differs little from the shade of the main part of the epidermis. At the onset of the disease, they appear as a single rash on the skin. If untreated, condylomas merge. Formations in the form of a comb or head of cauliflower appear.
- Flat warts. They are much less common than genital perianal condylomas. This is a more dangerous type of rash, since flat warts are very difficult to detect. Typically, the patient learns about them only after contacting a doctor. They only slightly rise above the skin and very often have a flesh-colored color, so they are often not detected even during a medical examination.
Photos of perianal condylomas can be seen above.
Symptomatology
Rashes on the skin in the form of sharp or flat warts are not the only symptom of papillomatosis. Other unpleasant manifestations bother the patient:
- In the anal area, itching and burning are felt.
- Perineal pain may be felt.
- With large internal condylomas, discomfort and a sensation of a foreign body in the anus appear.
- In advanced cases, bloody and purulent discharge comes out of the rectum.
Painful sensations can intensify with accidental irritation and trauma to the affected area with underwear. It is important to remember that papillomatosis is often observed in a patient along with other genital infections - chlamydia, genital herpes, etc. In this case, perineal pain and pathological discharge are noted much more often. Also, due to trauma to the rashes, a secondary bacterial infection may join the HPV.
Diagnostics
The treatment of perianal condylomas is carried out by a dermatovenerologist along with a proctologist. Diagnosis of the disease is usually not difficult:
- First, the doctor conducts an external examination of the perianal region. Already at this stage, a specialist can suspect a disease by characteristic rashes.
- Then the proctologist conducts an endoscopic examination using a sigmoidoscope. After all, warts are often localized not only outside, but also on the walls of the rectum.
- Additionally take a blood test for PCR diagnostics. This helps determine the HPV strain.
Doctors recommend that patients with papillomatosis undergo a comprehensive diagnosis of genital infections. Often, along with HPV, other viruses and bacteria are also found in patients. If the patient has a regular sexual partner, then he also needs to undergo an examination. Often a person himself does not suspect that he is infected.
Drug treatment
Treatment of genital warts in the perianal region is aimed at combating rashes and strengthening the patient's immunity. It should be remembered that it is absolutely useless to fight rashes with folk remedies. You can remove condylomas with medical methods only with the help of special solutions:
- Solkoderma;
- "Condilina";
- Epigen Intimate Spray.
Each of these tools has its own advantages and disadvantages:
- The drug "Solkoderm" effectively destroys perianal condylomas. It contains acids that cauterize and mummify warts. To get rid of rashes, one procedure is often enough. However, this solution can be used only in a medical facility. Contact with healthy skin can cause burns.
- The solution "Condilin" with extensive rashes sometimes has to be used several times. In one procedure, they can handle no more than 50 genital warts. It can be used at home. However, it is advisable that the first procedure is performed by a doctor.
- Spray "Epigen Intimate" is the most gentle means. It does not cause burns on contact with healthy skin. However, with extensive rashes, the spray is not effective enough.
Also, for the treatment of genital warts, the antiviral rectal suppositories "Panavir" and "Genferon" are used. These drugs fight the pathogen well, but their use is not enough to get rid of rashes.
To combat the virus, oral drugs are also prescribed:
- Cycloferon.
- "Panavir".
- "Isoprinosine".
- Groprinosin.
Strengthening the body's defenses plays an important role in the treatment. For this purpose, multivitamins and immunomodulators ("Polyoxidonium", "Immunolmax") are prescribed.
Surgical Wart Removal
Removal of perianal warts by surgical methods allows you to get rid of rashes in a short time. Such methods of treatment are much more effective than the treatment of rashes with cauterizing solutions. Currently, the following methods are used to remove warts:
- Cryodestruction. The neoplasm is removed with liquid nitrogen. Warts are frozen, then a white crust forms on them. She disappears after a few weeks. After 4-6 months, the patient's normal skin color is restored, and there is no trace of condylomas.
- Laser Therapy This is the most painless method of surgical treatment. The laser cauterizes and destroys the cells of genital warts. There is no scar left after treatment.
- The radio knife. This is a fairly expensive method for removing genital warts. Warts are cut off under local anesthesia, and the blood vessels at the site of the lesion are cauterized. This helps to avoid infection and bleeding.
- Removal with a scalpel. This is the most traumatic method of surgical treatment. Currently, it is rarely used. The traditional excision of warts is indicated only with extensive rashes and suspected malignancy of the formations. In this case, the remote areas of the rashes are sent to the laboratory for histological examination.
The recovery period after removal of genital warts may take a different time. Healing can last from 7 to 30 days. The skin should be washed with a solution of potassium permanganate or decoctions of chamomile and calendula. After the operation, the doctor prescribes antiviral and analgesic drugs:
- "Panavir".
- Miramistin.
- Ketorol.
- Ibuprofen
The recovery period after laser and radio wave therapy passes most easily. If condylomas were removed with a scalpel, then rehabilitation can take up to 1 month.
Forecast
It is impossible to completely get rid of HPV. This virus, once embedded in the cells of the body, remains in them forever. You can only take measures to prevent exacerbations of papillomatosis. For this, it is necessary first of all to strengthen your immunity, eat right, avoid hypothermia and colds, and also observe hygiene. This will help keep the virus inactive.
Prevention
Preventing HPV infection is quite difficult. Indeed, more than half of adults are carriers of this virus. However, the following measures will help reduce the risk of infection:
- refusal of promiscuous sexual intercourse;
- condom use;
- refusal to use other people's personal items;
- regular HPV testing.
Nowadays, the Gardasil and Cervarix vaccines against HPV have been developed. However, vaccination protects against infection only if the patient is not infected with this strain of the virus. Therefore, before vaccination, you must pass an HPV test.