HPV type 18 treatment

If our body is able to cope with low-oncogenic types of the virus on its own in most cases, then HPV 18 will not leave the body so easily. The human immune system can maintain the virus in the body in an inactive state, but as soon as it fails, the virions will immediately begin active activity, will penetrate living cells and dictate their line of behavior to them.

It turns out that if everything depends on the body's immune system, then there is no need to treat the infection? Is it really enough to just support the immune system? And in general, what should be done if HPV type 18 is detected?

Let's start with the fact that maintaining immunity is the main thing to pay attention to when detecting a virus that has not yet manifested itself, i.e. has not caused the appearance of specific symptoms: the appearance of growths and dysplasia. But if lesions in the form of papillomatous formations are already noted on the mucous membrane, we are talking about the activation of the infection, which means that the immune system could not cope with it and needs help.

In some cases, especially with papillomatosis in men, neoplasms can disappear on their own, you just need to boost your immunity. But often the disease only depletes the body, and the more new virions are formed, the harder it is for the body's defenses. Each new condyloma or wart is an area of accumulation of HPV 16 virions and some other types of papillomavirus infection. To help the immune system, such foci need to be removed as early as possible. The same can be said about foci of hyperplasia (tissue growth) on the mucous membrane of the cervix.

It turns out that the main point of treating the papilloma virus, especially its highly oncogenic types, is an operation to remove the foci of infection. By removing such foci, it is possible to prevent the spread of the pathological process to other tissues of the organ and even beyond its borders.

There are several effective methods for removing condylomas, warts and foci of dysplasia:

• A surgical operation to remove foci of pathological tissue changes, which is performed with a scalpel under local anesthesia. During the operation, the doctor necessarily sends a small fragment of excised tissue for histological examination.

The operation can be performed upon the appearance of such neoplasms even before the results of the PCR test are received. Subsequent detection of HPV 18 or HPV 16 virions is not an indication for repeated surgery, but if malignant cells are detected, another operation is urgently prescribed, during which part of the healthy cells (approximately 1 cm) is also removed to avoid relapse and further progression of the malignant process.

• Laser removal of neoplasms and foci of dysplasia. Unlike the classic surgical method, this technique usually does not require anesthesia (the woman may feel only warmth, slight discomfort in the cauterization area and an unpleasant smell of burnt flesh). The operation usually takes no more than 5 minutes and is accompanied by rapid tissue recovery without bleeding (the laser not only dries out pathological foci to a sufficient depth, but also coagulates blood vessels). Removal of large foci of dysplasia may be accompanied by minor bleeding for several days. In 1-2 weeks, the crusts formed during laser therapy fall off and are excreted from the body, and the mucous membrane finally tightens.
• Electrocoagulation method. Its action is identical to laser therapy. Under the influence of current, cauterization (drying) of pathological foci to the required depth and coagulation of vessels occurs, preventing severe bleeding. However, the operation may be more painful and require the use of local anesthesia, because the effect of current is less gentle than that of a laser.
• Removal of papillomas with chemicals. The doctor applies aggressive chemicals to the papilloma so that they cause the death of damaged cells along with the new virions formed in it. Usually, several sessions are required to completely remove the neoplasm.
• Cryodestruction method. In this case, freezing and destruction of papillomas occurs using liquid nitrogen. The method is considered absolutely painless and does not require anesthesia. Like laser therapy, it practically eliminates relapses of the disease, since it captures all the modified tissues. The restoration of the mucous membrane occurs in a short time.
• Radio wave method. Point exposure to radio waves also causes rapid and painless destruction of cells. This method is used in gynecology to treat cervical erosions, papillomas, and uterine polyps.

Unlike surgical treatment and the use of aggressive chemicals, modern methods of removing papillomas usually do not cause inflammation in the lesion and prevent infection of damaged tissues, which is an excellent prevention of sepsis (blood poisoning). However, these methods are applicable only if diagnostic measures completely exclude oncology, because cauterization or freezing of tissues leads to a change in their structure and does not allow taking material for biopsy.

And yet, despite all the effectiveness of the surgical method of treating papillomas, it does not provide an opportunity to completely get rid of the infection, which can not only nest in the area of growths and individual cells, but also circulate in the intercellular space, physiological fluids (blood, saliva, sweat). The operation only helps to reduce the number of virions, removing the foci of their greatest accumulation and the cells pathologically altered by them, and the body itself must deactivate the remaining elements of the viral infection. Humanity has not yet invented drugs that could defeat the virus.

Drugs for the treatment of HPV 18

The main weapon in the fight against the human papilloma virus is a strong immune system. It can be maintained at a high level with the help of vitamins, immunostimulants and antiviral drugs with an immunomodulatory effect. These are the drugs that domestic doctors use in the fight against the virus, while foreign specialists are very skeptical about the effectiveness of immunotherapy, recognizing only the clinically proven benefits of using local immunomodulators.

It should be noted that approaches to treating women and men also differ. It is believed that the male body is able to cope with viral papilloma infection on its own. This point of view is supported by the fact that clinical manifestations of the infection can be observed in men much less frequently than in women, and even then they often disappear on their own within one or two years. Usually, a man is a carrier of the infection (carrier state) received from a woman and does not pose a particular danger to his sexual partners until visible symptoms of the disease appear.

In this regard, when HPV 16 or HPV 18 is detected in men without external symptoms of the disease, dermatovenerologists, who treat the pathology in the stronger sex, do not prescribe any treatment. They prefer to take a wait-and-see attitude, examining the patient once every six months with cytological studies and a PCR test.

If papillomas are found on the genitals and anal area, the patient is referred for their treatment (removal using the methods described above). Treatment with HPV 16 and 18 drugs in men is carried out only in the case of a significantly weakened immune system, which happens in older people with a certain history of chronic diseases and in patients with HIV infection.

The female body is more sensitive to this type of viral infection, so in most cases it begins to manifest itself after some time in the form of papillomas and dysplasia foci on the mucous membrane of the cervical canal of the uterus. If there are also micro- and macrodamages (erosions) on the mucous membrane of the vagina and uterus, the virus takes root quite quickly and begins its pathological activity. That is why, already upon detection of cervical erosion, doctors often prescribe a PCR analysis to identify microorganisms that prevent the wound from healing and contribute to the transformation into a dysplasia focus.

Both papillomas of various sizes and dysplasia areas are subject to removal. For chemical removal of neoplasms, an 80% solution of trichloroacetic acid can be used, which actually cauterizes the lesion, causing tissue necrosis in the area of application. A 6-week course of treatment is indicated. Procedures are carried out once a week. The drug cannot be applied to healthy tissue. Treatment is effective in 2/3 of cases of the disease.

Another good option for treating papillomas is the drug "Solcoderm", which contains several organic and inorganic acids at once: nitric, acetic, oxalic and lactic plus copper nitrate, which, along with acids, causes destruction and mummification of the affected tissues. Like the previous medicine, the solution should be applied strictly to the surface of the papillomas, and this should be done by a specialist doctor. In this case, the color of the tissue should change from whitish-gray to brown, which indicates tissue necrosis.

If there are many neoplasms, they are removed in stages, 4-5 at a time. The procedures for applying the preparation are carried out rarely, with an interval of 4 months.

Treatment with chemicals is not prohibited during pregnancy, but it should be carried out by a specialist. It should also be said that such chemical "peeling" is contraindicated if malignant cells are detected in the lesion, because superficial exposure to aggressive substances can provoke tumor growth, but deep into the tissues.

While the papillomavirus infection does not give any symptoms, there is no need to worry about it, because the body restrains its reproduction. You can take a course of natural herbal immunostimulants to increase the body's defenses, or do nothing. In any case, if HPV 16 or 18 is detected, the woman is under the control of a gynecologist and is required to undergo an examination every six months, even if she does not notice any neoplasms.

The fact that papillomas have appeared or foci of dysplasia have formed indicates a weakening of the immune defense. Removal of diseased tissues cannot solve the problem completely or improve immunity. Bacterial infection can be defeated with antibiotics, some types of viruses are quite successfully treated with antiviral drugs, but not papillomavirus infection. Conventional antiviral agents that are effective against the herpes virus will bring little benefit in treating HPV.

In the case of the human papilloma virus, domestic doctors consider it justified to use drugs with antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. Such drugs often have different release forms, which allows them to be used for both local and systemic use. Internal use of immunomodulatory drugs is considered mandatory in the case of recurrent infection.

So, for local treatment of papillomavirus infection, Epigen Intim is often used in the form of a spray. Before the condylomas are removed, the drug is prescribed 3 times a day. Men treat the penis and anal area with the spray, women make 1-2 injections of the drug into the vagina.

Immediately after the removal of neoplasms, the medicine is used up to 5 times a day, continuing treatment until the mucous membrane is completely restored.

The drug can also be prescribed for prophylactic purposes to prevent relapse of the disease caused by highly oncogenic HPV 18. In this case, the treatment regimen will be identical to that prescribed before the removal of neoplasms, and the course of treatment will last for a month. It is considered mandatory to treat the vagina before and after sexual contact, in stressful situations, the development of respiratory infections, antibiotic therapy, which negatively affect human immunity.

The drug "Panavir" is also used to combat papillomavirus infection. It is produced in convenient forms for these purposes, such as a gel for external use, an intimate spray, vaginal and rectal suppositories, and an injection solution.

The solution for intravenous injections is used to treat recurrent infection and cervical dysplasia caused by HPV. The course of treatment consists of 5 injections, the first 3 of which are given at intervals of 48 hours, the rest at intervals of 72 hours, i.e. once every 2 or 3 days, using 5 ml of the solution each time. In the first trimester of pregnancy and during breastfeeding, such treatment is contraindicated.

The gel should be applied to papillomas that are within reach: on the genitals and anal area. The drug in this form is perfect for patients of any gender. The gel, without rubbing, is applied to the area of neoplasms 5 times a day for up to 1 month. The effectiveness of treatment after removal of condylomas reaches 95 percent.

Rectal and vaginal suppositories help fight the manifestations of the virus hidden in the vagina and colon (condylomas and foci of dysplasia). Vaginal suppositories are intended for the treatment of women and are inserted into the vaginal cavity, rectal suppositories can be prescribed to patients of any gender, including pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy (as prescribed by a doctor, usually to prevent exacerbation of the disease before childbirth).

Suppositories should be administered according to the same scheme as the solution for intravenous administration. That is, 3 suppositories are administered at intervals of 2 days, and after the 3rd suppository, the interval is increased to 3 days. As a preventive measure against relapses of the infection, a repeat course of the drug is prescribed after a month.

Intimate spray is not so much a therapeutic as a preventive remedy with a lower concentration of the active substance, which should be used before and after sexual intercourse. Usually 2-3 injections of the medicine are carried out into the vagina or on the penis.

What immunomodulators are prescribed for internal use for HPV:

• "Isoprinosine" is an antiviral drug with immunomodulatory action, most often prescribed in tablet form. The daily dose is calculated as 50 mg per kilogram of the patient's weight. The course of treatment is from 5 to 15 days.

The drug is not prescribed to patients with gout, severe renal impairment, arrhythmia, as well as to women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• "Allokin-alpha" is an antiviral drug with proven effectiveness against papillomavirus infection. It is used in chronic HPV caused by the presence of its highly oncogenic types (HPV 18, HPV 16, etc.). Doctors can prescribe the drug even in the absence of clinical manifestations of the disease.

The medicine is produced in the form of a solution that must be administered subcutaneously, mixed with 1 ml of saline. The drug is administered once every 2 days (48 hours apart) in a course of 6 injections. A single dose of the drug is 1 mg.

The drug is not prescribed during pregnancy and lactation, as well as during exacerbations of autoimmune diseases.

• "Gepon" is a drug with an immunomodulatory effect, which helps prevent relapses of the disease and its complications with bacterial or fungal infection. The medicine is produced in the form of vials with powder, from which a solution is prepared for oral administration and irrigation of mucous membranes, using the supplied solvent (water for injection).

The drug is taken orally once a day in the amount of 10 mg. For irrigation of the mucous membrane affected by the disease, a solution with a concentration of 0.02-0.04% is prepared from 1-2 mg of powder. The treatment is also carried out once a day. The course of treatment is determined by the attending physician.

The drug has virtually no contraindications. But it can be used during pregnancy only in extreme cases.

• "Likopid". An immunomodulator used for papillomavirus infection in adults. For hyperplastic processes on the cervix against the background of the introduction of HPV 16 or 18, the drug is prescribed for a ten-day course of 10 mg per day. The tablet should be swallowed or kept under the tongue.

The drug is not prescribed during pregnancy.

• "Immunomax". An immunomodulator that increases the body's defenses and promotes the resorption of neoplasms caused by viral infections.
• The drug is administered intravenously once a day at 100-200 IU per day. The course of treatment consists of 6 injections. First, 3 injections are given, then a break for 4 days, and then 3 injections again.

In addition to the above-described drugs, natural immunostimulants can be used: extracts of eleutherococcus, echinacea, ginseng, Chinese magnolia vine, etc., as well as B vitamins, vitamins C, D and E.

The mechanism of action of antiviral drugs is based on stimulating the production of interferon in the body - a protein that prevents viruses from penetrating into the body's cells and their replication (reproduction). For this purpose, specific synthetic or natural immune stimulants are included in the composition of the drugs.

But the same effect can be achieved by introducing real human interferon into the body:

• CHLI (human leukocyte interferon). It is used for applications on the surface of condylomas in a two-week course or injections administered directly into the papilloma or under it (a three-week course, 3 times a week).
• "Viferon" is a drug based on human recombinant alpha-2 interferon. It is available in the form of an ointment and rectal suppositories. The ointment is applied to neoplasms daily 3-4 times a day, lightly rubbing into the skin, for a course of up to 7 days.

Suppositories that need to be inserted into the rectum are prescribed 1 piece 2 times a day at intervals of 12 hours for a course of up to 10 days.

• Suppositories with reaferon "Fitomax Plus". An antiviral agent based on human interferon. Suppositories are inserted into the vagina or rectum, 1 suppository per day. The course of treatment is up to 30 days. A repeat course is recommended after a 7-day break.
• "Interferon ointment". The drug is applied three times a day to the area of the papillomas for a course of 10 days.
• "Genferon". An analogue of the drug "Viferon". It is produced in the form of suppositories, which are inserted into the vagina one twice a day for a ten-day course. Men can use the drug rectally, inserting suppositories into the anus. In case of chronic recurrent HPV, suppositories are recommended to be used one every other day, i.e. 3 times a week for a course of up to three months.

Some dietary supplements are also used to treat papillomavirus infection. One of these is the drug "Indinol". This is a purely female drug that regulates the balance of sex hormones and stops the pathological growth of uterine tissue. It has a detrimental effect on cells that, under the influence of the virus, have acquired the ability to reproduce excessively. The dietary supplement is prescribed for both cervical dysplasia and anogenital condylomas caused by the influence of papillomavirus infection.

You need to take Indinol daily, 1 capsule, together with immunomodulators.

Additionally, patients are prescribed adaptogens in the form of sedatives:

• "Valerian extract". Tablets should be taken 3-4 times a day, 1 piece for 2-3 weeks.
• "Persen". The drug is taken twice a day, 1 tablet. The course of treatment is up to 4 weeks.
• "Relanium". Patients are prescribed 1 tablet before bedtime for a ten-day course.
• "Novo-Passit". Treatment is carried out for 2 weeks, taking 1 tablet twice a day daily.

What are sedatives for? The fact is that one of the main factors that negatively affects the state of our immune system is stress. And the patient, having learned about such a disappointing diagnosis as HPV 18, will constantly worry about his life, worry about the existing probability of the disease turning into a malignant form, wind himself up, thereby complicating the situation and preventing his body from defeating the infection. Sedatives help calm the patient's nervous system in order to avoid the negative consequences of strong experiences, which are considered stress for the body.

To combat stress, some clinics use ozone therapy (ozone drips). But this method of physical impact on the body also helps to deactivate the papilloma virus for many years.

As for folk treatment of papillomavirus infection, herbal infusions containing herbs with immunostimulating and calming effects will be appropriate: echinacea, valerian, motherwort, oregano, lemon balm, coriander, dandelion, nettle.

Removing pointed condylomas and warts in the genital area using aggressive agents (iodine, celandine juice, garlic, etc.) is undesirable and even dangerous, because such treatment is not suitable for delicate mucous membranes. Doctors also do not support the idea of using the veterinary drug "ASD" fraction 2 for the treatment of condylomas, which is much written about on forums on the treatment of HPV.

"ASD-2" is a veterinary antiseptic and immunomodulator based on adaptogens isolated from a living organism on the eve of its death, which help cells affected by viruses to fight for life. It has been used for medical purposes for a long time and successfully, however, no doctor will prescribe a treatment based on it, because officially the drug is intended for the treatment of animals.

Be that as it may, but the active discussion of this drug on the Internet in connection with the treatment of papillomavirus infection suggests that the drug really helps. It is advisable to take it in courses of 5 days with a 3-day break. Start taking 3-5 drops, gradually increasing the dose to 20-40 drops, and then reducing to the original dosage. But in addition to internal use of the drug, the dosage of which should still be discussed with a doctor, it is also recommended to apply the fraction to condylomas and warts in the anogenital area several times a day. The drug promotes the resorption of neoplasms, so it should be used daily until the growths disappear.

As we can see, it is possible to successfully fight even such an infection resistant to external influences as the human papilloma virus. If you follow the course of treatment prescribed by your doctor, you can slow down the spread of even highly oncogenic types of papillomatous virus, which are considered to be provocateurs of cancer in the reproductive system of men and women, such as HPV types 18 and 16.