Anal warts are a very common problem. Many people face it, regardless of gender and age. Of course, skin growths in such a delicate place bring a lot of inconvenience to the patient's life. That is why many readers are interested in additional information.
Why do anal warts appear? We cannot provide a photo depicting neoplasms for ethical reasons, but treatment methods and methods for removing growths are important information that you should familiarize yourself with. So how dangerous are such skin tumors?
Anal warts: causes
In fact, the appearance of such neoplasms on the human body is associated with penetration into the body and activation of the human papillomavirus. Today, more than a hundred varieties of the virus are known. However, according to statistics, in 90% of cases, the formation of warts near the anus is associated with infection with HPV type 6 or 11.
It is worth noting that this virus is quite common - it is believed that more than 90% of the world's population are carriers of this infection. Among the variety of these pathogenic microorganisms, there are also very dangerous ones. For example, infection of a person with viruses of type 16, 18, 45 and 56 increases the likelihood of developing cancer.
Transmission routes
Anal warts are a very common problem that results from viral invasion. How is human papillomavirus transmitted? In most cases, this occurs during sexual intercourse (especially when it comes to unprotected contacts). By the way, you can also get infected during oral caresses and anal sex.
There is a chance of mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy or during childbirth. In this case, the virus can behave unpredictably - for example, in a newborn baby, papillomas can appear on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity or larynx.
It is worth saying that after getting into the body, the papilloma virus does not appear immediately - sometimes there are no symptoms for many years. It is proved that the formation of warts near the anus (as well as in any other area of the skin or mucous membranes) is associated with a decrease in the activity of the immune system. If the body's defenses are weakening, rapid multiplication of the virus begins, which leads to the appearance of skin neoplasms.
Varieties of neoplasms
It is immediately worth noting that the activity of the papilloma virus can lead to the formation of various skin growths. To date, several types of warts are distinguished .
- Condylomas are finger-shaped warts with a rounded head, which is attached to the skin with a thin leg. As a rule, such neoplasms are small and multiple. They appear on the tissues of the perineum, genitals and anus.
- The human papillomavirus can cause the formation of papules. These are flat neoplasms with severe pigmentation, which are characterized by hyperkeratosis.
- The disease can be accompanied by the formation of small, slightly hyperemic spots on the skin. They can acquire various shades (reddish, brown, gray, grayish-white).
As you may have guessed, a photo of anal warts is not the most pleasant sight, so we will limit ourselves to a detailed description of the pathology.
What other symptoms are worth paying attention to?
How to detect this problem? Diagnosis of anal warts is rarely fraught with difficulty - a person in most cases can independently find the tubercles and pimples in the anus.
But there are other symptoms that are difficult to ignore. Sometimes a small swelling and hyperemia of the tissues in the anus occurs first and only then papillomas form. Many patients complain of extremely unpleasant sensations (in particular, burning and itching) in the anus and perineum. There may be discharge from the rectum (especially if the warts have spread to the intestinal mucosa) with a very unpleasant odor. Some people also report the appearance of very uncharacteristic pain during anal intercourse and bowel movements.
Possible complications
Papillomas are often injured, which leads to the formation of small wounds and cracks. Secondary infection of the tissues with bacteria is possible, which leads to inflammation of the skin, the formation of ulcers. In the absence of therapy and the presence of concomitant diseases (for example, HIV infection), fistulas may form at the site of the papilloma.
Diagnostic measures
You already know the origin of anal warts. Causes and treatment are very interesting information, but first you need to understand the diagnosis.
First of all, a general inspection is carried out. On the skin, the doctor can see very characteristic neoplasms. Women are also referred for a gynecological examination in order to identify warts in the vagina and cervix. In addition, urethroscopy is performed, since sometimes papillomas form on the mucous membrane of the urethra.
Patients donate blood for analysis (this is necessary not only to detect the papilloma virus, but also to exclude other infections). Histological and cytological studies are carried out - this makes it possible to determine whether a malignant process takes place. After receiving the results of all tests, the doctor will be able to decide on the treatment of anal warts. Therapy is selected individually, taking into account the symptoms and characteristics of the patient.
Drug treatment
The methods for treating anal warts are diverse. Since the appearance of such neoplasms is associated with the activity of the human papillomavirus, therapy often involves taking antiviral drugs. For example, such drugs as Acyclovir, Isoprinosine, Novirin, Bonafton are considered effective.
Antiviral drugs are also available in the form of gels / ointments for external use. Doctors often recommend Viferon gel to patients, locally prescribe salicylic ointment, and prescribe Panavir. These drugs are active against various infectious agents, in particular viruses. In addition, ointments have anti-inflammatory properties, relieve itching, soreness, burning and redness. Sometimes therapy is supplemented with rectal suppositories (Betadine, Kipferon).
Wart Removal Methods
Medication, of course, helps to activate the immune system, as well as slow down the process of reproduction of viruses. Nevertheless, warts that have already appeared in such a delicate place give a person a lot of inconvenience. Moreover, there is always a risk of damage to skin growths with subsequent infection and inflammation of the tissues. That is why sometimes it is just necessary to remove the warts. In modern medicine, several techniques are used:
- Chemical removal involves the use of aggressive chemicals that literally cauterize papilloma tissue. Today, drugs such as Kondilin (available in the form of a solution) are widely used. More gentle is the Condilox gel, which makes it much easier to treat the affected area of the skin. Trichloroacetic acid solution can be used to remove warts.
- Surgical excision is rarely carried out today, since after removing the wart with a scalpel, a scar remains on the skin. Moreover, there is a possibility of bacterial infection of damaged tissues.
- Radio wave surgery allows you to remove the papilloma using a radio frequency knife.
- Laser removal is today considered the most painless and safe way. With the help of a laser beam, the doctor excises skin growths. The procedure itself takes only a few minutes, and the rehabilitation period as such is absent. The laser does not damage healthy tissues and instantly burns damaged vessels - there is no contact with the patient’s blood, which minimizes the likelihood of infectious complications.
- Cryodestruction is a very popular technique, the essence of which is to expose the wart tissue to extremely low temperatures. Liquid nitrogen is used for removal. This is an affordable procedure that is carried out in almost any hospital. It should be borne in mind that with the inept use of liquid nitrogen on the skin, small traces may remain.
- Removal of warts by electric current is also quite often carried out in modern medical practice. After the procedure, a small white scab remains on the skin, which after a while disappears by itself.
Immune therapy
As already mentioned, the formation of warts (not only in the anus, but in any other area) is associated with a weakening of the activity of the immune system. If there is the appearance of multiple neoplasms and / or damage to large areas of the skin, then the doctor may prescribe immunomodulating agents. Such drugs as Cycloferon and Neovir are considered effective - they help the body cope with a viral infection.
In more severe cases, it is advisable to carry out injections of interferon (normally, interferon is produced by the immune system, but sometimes it is administered from the outside). Injections are carried out either intramuscularly or directly into each anal wart.
Alternative methods of treatment
Of course, traditional medicine offers a lot of tools to help get rid of warts.
- Many folk healers recommend treating warts with fresh potato juice. This is a painless and affordable procedure that allows you to clean the skin around the anus of neoplasms. Nevertheless, you should not count on quick results - the full course of therapy lasts about 30 days.
- Fresh celandine juice has useful properties - several times a day you need to treat them with papillomas. This substance cauterizes the wart, after which it turns black, forms a scab, and then it completely disappears.
It should be understood that it is impossible to carry out such procedures without the permission of a doctor. In this case, a thorough diagnosis is needed, because if there is a malignant degeneration of tissues, then self-medication can only worsen the situation. Effective methods of treating anal warts can only be selected by a doctor.
Prevention: can I protect myself?
Talk about prevention. Is there any way to prevent the appearance of anal warts? Many people are interested in the answer to this question. Today, there is a vaccine that prevents infection of the human papillomavirus, but it is advisable to administer it only if it was possible to confirm that the patient is not a carrier of the infection (as a rule, such vaccinations are recommended for teenage girls before sexual activity begins in order to reduce the likelihood of developing cancer of the reproductive system in the future).
In any case, it is very important to be responsible in choosing a sexual partner. If an accidental sexual intercourse still takes place, then in no case should you give up barrier contraception (condoms).
As already mentioned, anal warts (like any other types of papillomas) appear against the background of a decrease in immune activity. That is why it is important to abandon bad habits, maintain good physical shape, eat right, take vitamins periodically - all this helps to increase the body's resistance to various infections.