What does oral HPV look like? HPV infection within the mouth will first present as small red, pink or pale sores, similar to any
An oral HPV infection has no symptoms and cannot be detected by a test. If you have symptoms that concern you, it does not mean you have cancer, but you should see your health care provider to get it checked. You may undergo a physical exam. Your provider may examine your mouth area.
What are the symptoms of HPV-positive throat cancer? Symptoms include hoarseness, pain or difficulty swallowing, pain while chewing, a lump in the neck, a feeling of apersistent lump in the throat, change in voice, or non-healing sores on the neck.
Is there a treatment for oral HPV infection? Currently there is no treatment for the oral HPV infection. However, most people who get an infection usually clear the virus on their own within a year or two of getting the infection with no treatment and no interventions.
Warning Signs and Symptoms
Infection may not cause any symptoms at all, or may cause simple mouth sores that resemble other forms of infection. Because HPV infection can lead to oral cancer, be on the watch for these symptoms, and alert your physician or dentist if you experience them.
Further, micro-abrasions that expose the basal layer in non-infected partners provide an opportunity for infection. While sexual intercourse is the primary means of transmission, genital-to-genital interactions, oral-to-genital interactions, or deep (French) kissing can also spread the virus.
The most common are small, hard sores called warts, but not everyone who has HPV gets them. They may be raised, flat, or shaped like a cauliflower, and they can be different sizes. They can show up on your genital area or other places, depending on the type of the virus you have. These warts often go away on their own.
HPV can infect the mouth and throat and cause cancers of the oropharynx (back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils). This is called oropharyngeal cancer. HPV is thought to cause 70% of oropharyngeal cancers in the United States.
In fact, most oral HPV infections clear up on their own without treatment in about two years. But, for some people, the virus stays in their system for decades. In these cases, oral HPV could go on to cause more serious health issues, including oropharyngeal cancer.
Although HPV can increase the risk of developing some types of cancer, most people who have HPV do NOT develop cancer.
Mouth sores that easily bleed and do not heal. Loose teeth. Red or white patches on the tonsils, gums, tongue, or the mouth lining. Having a thickening or a lump on the cheek, gums, lips, or neck.
Research has found that it can take 10 to 20 years, or even longer, for HPV-infected cervical cells to develop into a cancerous tumor. Among women whose cervical cells are infected with high-risk HPV, several factors increase the chance that the infection will be long lasting and lead to precancerous cervical cells.
When the body's immune system can't get rid of an HPV infection with oncogenic HPV types, it can linger over time and turn normal cells into abnormal cells and then cancer. About 10% of women with HPV infection on their cervix will develop long-lasting HPV infections that put them at risk for cervical cancer.
However, oral HPV diagnostics could potentially be performed during routine dental cleaning visits, providing a non-invasive screen that may identify persons at increased risk of future oropharyngeal cancer.
What is oral HPV testing? Oral HPV testing typically involves the use of small mirrors that are used to examine areas of the throat that are difficult to see. Lesions may appear in the throat, larynx, and at the base of the tongue.
Is HPV Contagious Forever? Most cases of HPV clear up on their own after one to two years, and you'll no longer be contagious once it leaves your system. However, the virus can remain dormant for years, and some people experience infections that stick around for much longer.
Yes. Although most infections occur following intercourse, HPV may also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. Even more rarely, a mom can transmit the virus to her baby during birth.
HPV cannot be treated. Doctors can remove visible genital lesions and warts caused by HPV, but there is no cure for the virus. Unlike other sexually transmitted infections, HPV is caused by a virus and viruses cannot be cured with antibiotics.
HPV is sensitive to some chemical disinfectants, including hypochlorites and formulas containing peracetic acid and silver. Additionally, automatic machines using sonicated hydrogen peroxide are especially effective against HPV-16 and HPV-18, two high-risk strains of HPV.
Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area.