If with low-oncogenic types of the virus our body in most cases is able to cope on its own, then HPV 18 so simply does not leave the body. The human immune system can maintain the virus in the body in an inactive state, but as soon as it fails, the virions immediately begin active activity, will be introduced into living cells and dictate their own behavior to them.
It turns out that if everything depends on the immune system of the body, then there is no need to treat the infection? Is it enough just to maintain immunity? And in general, what needs to be done if HPV type 18 is detected ?
Let's start with the fact that maintaining immunity is the main thing, what you need to pay attention to when you identify a virus that has not yet shown itself, i.e. Did not cause the appearance of specific symptoms: the appearance of growths and dysplasia. But if the fungus already has lesions in the form of papillodermatous formations, it is already about activating 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, it is only necessary to increase immunity. But often the disease only depletes the body, and the more new virions are formed, the harder the protective forces of the body are. Each new condyloma or wart is a site of congestion of HPV 16 virions and some other varieties of papillomavirus infection. To help the immune system, you need to remove such foci, and as early as possible. The same can be said about the foci of hyperplasia (proliferation of tissues) on the mucous membrane of the cervix.
It turns out that the main point of treatment of the papilloma virus, especially of its highly-oncogenic types, is an operation to remove foci of infection. Removing such foci can prevent the spread of the pathological process to other tissues of the organ and even beyond it.
There are several effective methods for removing genital warts, warts and dysplasia:
- Surgical operation to remove foci of pathological tissue changes, which is performed with a scalpel using local anesthesia. During the operation, the doctor necessarily sends a small fragment of excised tissue to the histological examination.
The operation can be performed after the appearance of such tumors even before the results of the PRC test are obtained. Subsequent detection of the virions of HPV 18 or HPV 16 is not an indication for a second operation, but if malignant cells are detected, another operation is urgently prescribed, during which some healthy cells (approximately 1 cm) are removed to avoid recurrence and further progression of the malignant process.
- Removal of neoplasms and foci of dysplasia by means of a laser. Unlike the classical surgical method, this technique usually does not require anesthesia (a woman can feel only heat, a slight discomfort in the moxibustion zone and an unpleasant smell of burnt flesh). The operation usually takes no more than 5 minutes and is accompanied by a rapid restoration of tissues without bleeding (the laser not only drains pathological foci to a sufficient depth, but also coagulates the blood vessels). Removal of large foci of dysplasia can be accompanied by a slight bleeding for several days. For 1-2 weeks formed during laser therapy, crusts disappear and are eliminated from the body, and the mucosa is finally tightened.
- Method of electrocoagulation. Its action is identical to laser therapy. Under the influence of the current, cauterization (drying) of pathological foci at the desired depth and coagulation of the vessels occurs, preventing severe bleeding. True, the operation may be more painful and require the application of local anesthesia, because the action of the current is less sparing than the laser.
- Removal of papillomas with chemicals. Aggressive chemicals the doctor applies to the papilloma so that they cause the death of damaged cells along with the new virions formed in it. Typically, multiple sessions are required to completely uninstall.
- Method of cryodestruction. In this case, freezing and destruction of papillomas occurs by liquid nitrogen. The technique is absolutely painless and does not require the introduction of anesthesia. Like laser therapy, virtually eliminates relapse of the disease, as it captures all the modified tissues. Restoration of the mucosa occurs in a short time.
- The radio wave method. The point effect of radio waves also causes rapid and painless destruction of cells. Through this method in gynecology, cervical erosions, papillomas, polyps in the uterus are treated.
Unlike surgical treatment and the use of aggressive chemicals, modern methods of removal by papillomas usually do not cause inflammation in the lesion and prevent infection of damaged tissues, which is an excellent prophylaxis for sepsis (blood infection). Nevertheless, these methods are only applicable if the diagnostic measures completely exclude oncology, because moxibustion or freezing of tissues leads to a change in their structure and does not make it possible to take the material for biopsy.
And yet, despite the effectiveness of the surgical method of treatment with papillomas, it does not allow to completely get rid of an infection that 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 helps only to reduce the number of virions, removing the foci of their largest cluster and pathologically altered cells, and the body itself must deactivate the remaining elements of the viral infection. Drugs that could defeat the virus, humanity has not yet invented.
Preparations for the treatment of HPV 18
The main weapon in the fight against the human papilloma virus is strong immunity. Support it at a high level can be with vitamins, immunostimulants and antiviral drugs with immunomodulating action. These drugs are used in the fight against the virus by domestic doctors, while foreign specialists are very skeptical about the effectiveness of immunotherapy, recognizing only the clinically proven benefit of using local immunomodulators.
It must be said that the approaches to treatment of women and men are just as different. It is believed that the male body is able to cope with viral papillomainfection alone. In support of this view, there are such facts that in men the clinical manifestations of infection can be observed much less frequently than in women, and even then they often disappear on their own within one to two years. Usually, the man is the carrier of the infection (virus carrier), received from the woman and does not pose a particular danger to his sexual partners until the appearance of visible symptoms of the disease.
In this regard, when detecting HPV 16 or HPV 18 in men without external symptoms of the disease, dermatovenerologists who are engaged in treatment of 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 the cytology and PRC test.
If, on the genitals and the anal region, papillomas were identified, the patient is referred to their treatment (removal by the methods described above). Treatment with drugs HPV 16 and 18 in men is carried out only in the case of markedly weakened immunity, which happens in people aged with a certain baggage of chronic diseases and in patients with HIV infection.
The female organism appears to be more sensitive to a viral infection of this kind, therefore in most cases it after a while begins to manifest itself in the form of papillomas and foci of dysplasia on the mucous membrane of the cervical channel of the uterus. If, moreover, there are micro- and macro-damages (erosions) on the vaginal and uterine mucosa, the virus quickly takes root and begins its pathological activity. That's why even when cervical erosion is detected, doctors often prescribe PRC-analysis to identify microorganisms that prevent healing of the wound and contribute to the transformation into a dysplasia focus.
Removal is subject to both papillomas of various sizes, and areas of dysplasia. For the chemical removal of tumors, an 80% solution of trichloroacetic acid can be used, which actually cauterizes the lesion, causing tissue necrosis in the application area. A 6-week course of treatment is indicated. The procedures are carried out once a week. The drug should not be applied to healthy tissues. Treatment is effective in 2/3 of the cases.
Another good option for treating papillomas is Solkoderm, which contains several organic and inorganic acids: 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 it should be done by a specialist doctor. In this case, the color of the tissue from whitish-gray to brown should change, which indicates tissue necrosis.
If there are many neoplasms, then they are removed in stages by 4-5 pieces per time. Procedures for applying the drug are rarely performed at intervals of 4 months.
Treatment with chemical drugs is not prohibited during pregnancy, but should be carried out by a specialist. It must also be said that such chemical "pilling" is contraindicated if malignant cells are detected in the lesion focus, since surface effects by aggressive substances can provoke tumor growth, but already deep into tissues.
While the papillomavirus infection does not give any symptoms, it is not necessary to worry about it, because the organism restrains its reproduction. You can drink a course of natural immunostimulants based on herbs to increase the body's defenses, or do nothing. In any case, if HPV 16 or 18 is detected, a woman is under the control of a gynecologist and must undergo an examination every six months, even if she does not notice any neoplasms in her body.
The fact that the papilloma appeared or formed foci of dysplasia, speaks of a weakening of the immune defense. Removal of diseased tissues can not solve the problem definitively or improve immunity. A bacterial infection can be defeated with antibiotics, some types of viruses are quite successfully treated with antiviral drugs, but not a papillomavirus infection. Conventional antiviral agents effective in the herpes virus will be of little use in the treatment of HPV.
In the case of the human papillomavirus, domestic doctors believe that the use of drugs with antiviral and immunomodulating action is justified. Such drugs often have different release limits, which allows them to be used for both local and systemic use. Internal reception of immunomodulating medications is considered mandatory in case of a recurrent infection.
So, for local treatment of papillomavirus infection, Epigen Intim is often used as a spray. Before the condylomas are removed, the drug is prescribed 3 times a day. Men spray the penis and anal area, women spend 1-2 injections of the drug in the vagina.
Immediately after the removal of tumors, the drug is applied up to 5 times a day, continuing the treatment until the mucosa completely recovers.
The drug can also be prescribed for preventive purposes to prevent recurrence of the disease caused by highly-coagulated HPV 18. In this case, the treatment regimen will be identical to that prescribed before the removal of tumors, and the course of treatment will last for a month. It is necessary to treat the vagina before and after sexual contact, in stressful situations, the development of respiratory infections, antibiotic therapy, negatively affecting the human immunity.
Used to combat papillomavirus infection and the drug "Panavir", which is produced in such convenient forms for this purpose, as an external gel, intimate spray, vaginal and rectal suppositories, injection solution.
A solution for intravenous injection is used in the treatment of recurrent infection and cervical dysplasia caused by HPV. The course of treatment consists of 5 injections, the first 3 of them are done with an interval of 48 hours, the rest - with an interval of 72 hours, i.е. 1 time in 2 or 3 days, using 5 ml of solution each time. In the first trimester of pregnancy and during breastfeeding, this treatment is contraindicated.
The gel should be lubricated with papillomas that are within reach: on the genitals and the anus. The drug in this form is excellent for patients of any gender. The gel, without rubbing, is applied to the area of tumors 5 times a day up to 1 month. The effectiveness of treatment after removal of genital warts is 95 percent.
Rectal and vaginal suppositories help to combat manifestations of the virus hidden in the vagina and colon (warts and foci of dysplasia). Vaginal suppositories are designed to treat women and are injected into the vaginal cavity; rectal can be administered to patients of either sex, including pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy (as prescribed by the doctor, usually to prevent the exacerbation of the disease before delivery).
To introduce suppositories you need the same scheme, which uses a solution for intravenous administration. Those. 3 suppositories are placed with an interval of 2 days, and after 3 suppositories the interval is increased to 3 days. As a prevention of recurrence of infection, a second course of the drug is prescribed in a month.
Intim spray is not so much curative as a preventive agent with a lower concentration of active substance, which must be used before and after sexual intercourse. Usually 2-3 injections of the drug in the vagina or the penis.
What immunomodulators are prescribed for HPV for internal reception:
- "Isoprinosine" is an antiviral drug and an immunomodulatory action, most commonly prescribed in the form of tablets. The daily dose is calculated as 50 mg per kilogram of patient weight. The course of treatment is from 5 to 15 days.
The drug is not prescribed for patients with gout, severe impairment of kidney function, arrhythmias, and women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- "Allokin-alpha" is an antiviral drug with proven efficacy against papillomavirus infection. It is used in the chronic course of HPV caused by the presence of highly ionogenic types (HPV 18, HPV 16, etc.). The drug can be prescribed by doctors even in the absence of clinical manifestations of the disease.
The medicine is produced in the form of a solution, which must be administered subcutaneously, mixed with 1 ml of saline solution. The drug is administered 1 time in 2 days (interval - 48 hours) with a course of 6 injections. Single dose of the drug - 1 mg.
The drug is not prescribed for pregnancy and lactation, as well as for exacerbations of autoimmune diseases.
- "Gepon" is a preparation with immunomodulating action, which allows to prevent recurrence of the disease and its complication with a bacterial or fungal infection. The drug is produced in the form of vials of powder, from which a solution is prepared for ingestion and irrigation of the mucous membranes, using the supplied solvent (water for injection).
Inside the drug is taken once a day in an amount of 10 mg. For irrigation of diseased mucosa, a solution with a concentration in the range of 0.02-0.04% of 1-2 mg powder is prepared. The treatment is also carried out once a day. The course of treatment is established by the attending physician.
The drug has virtually no contraindications. But you can use it during pregnancy only as a last resort.
- Lycopid. Immunomodulator used for papillomavirus infection in adults. When hyperplastic processes on the cervix against the background of the introduction of HPV 16 or 18, the drug is prescribed 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". Immunomodulator, which increases the body's defenses and promotes resorption of tumors provoked by a viral infection.
- The drug is administered once a day intravenously for 100-200 IU per day. The course of treatment consists of 6 injections. First make 3 injections, then break for 4 days, and again 3 injections.
In addition to the above preparations, natural immunostimulating agents can be used: extracts of elleuterococcus, echinacea, ginseng, magnolia vine, etc., as well as vitamins of group B, vitamins C, D and E.
The mechanism of action of antiviral drugs is based on stimulation of the production of interferon in the body, a protein that prevents the penetration of viruses into the cells of the body and their replication (reproduction). To do this, the composition of the drugs include specific synthetic or natural stimulants of immunity.
But the same effect can be achieved if you introduce into the body a real human interferon:
- Chli (human leukocyte interferon). Used for applications on the surface of the condyloma a two-week course or injections, injected directly into the papilloma or under it (three-week course 3 times a week).
- "Viferon" is a drug based on human interferon recombinant alpha-2. Produced in the form of ointments and rectal suppositories. Ointment is applied to neoplasms daily 3-4 times a day, lightly rubbing into the skin, up to 7 days.
Candles that need to be injected into the rectum are prescribed for 1 piece 2 times a day at intervals of 12 hours with a course of up to 10 days.
- Suppositories with reaferon "Phytomax plus". An antiviral agent based on human interferon. Suppositories are injected into the vagina or rectum at 1 suppository per day. The course of treatment is up to 30 days. A second course is recommended after a 7-day break.
- "Interferon Ointment". The drug is applied three times a day to the papillomas area by a course of 10 days.
- "Genferon." Analogue of the drug "Viferon". Produced in the form of candles, which enter the vagina one twice a day for a ten-day course. Men can use the drug rectally, injecting suppositories into the anus. With a chronic recurrent course of HPV, the suppository is recommended to use one every other day, i.e. 3 times a week for up to three months.
They are used to treat papillomavirus infection and some dietary supplements. These include the drug "Indinol". This is a purely female drug that regulates the balance of sex hormones and stops the pathological proliferation of uterine tissues. It has a harmful effect on cells, which under the influence of the virus have acquired the ability to reproduce excessively. BAA is prescribed for cervical dysplasia, as well as for anogenital warts, caused by the influence of papillomavirus infection.
Take "Indinol" you need a daily 1 capsule together with immunomodulators.
In addition, patients are prescribed adaptogens in the form of sedatives:
- "Valerian extract". Tablets should be taken 3-4 times a day for 1 piece for 2-3 weeks.
- "Persen". The drug is taken twice a day for 1 tablet. The course of treatment is up to 4 weeks.
- Relanium. Prescribe to patients 1 tablet before bedtime ten-day course.
- Novopassit. The treatment is carried out for 2 weeks, taking 1 tablet twice a day.
What are sedatives used for? The fact is that one of the main factors negatively affecting the state of our immune system is stress. And the patient, having learned about such a disappointing diagnosis as HPV 18, will constantly worry for his life, worry about the existing probability of the disease becoming a malignant form, twisting itself, thereby complicating the situation and preventing your body from conquering the infection. Sedatives help to calm the nervous system of the patient, in order to avoid the negative consequences of strong experiences that are considered stress for the body.
To combat stress in some clinics ozonotherapy is used (droppers with ozone). But this method of physical impact on the body also contributes to the deactivation of the papilloma virus for many years.
As for the alternative treatment of papillomavirus infection, it will be expedient to collect vegetable herbs with immunostimulating and soothing effect: echinacea, valerian, motherwort, oregano, lemon balm, coriander, dandelion, nettle.
The removal of genital warts and warts in the genital area with aggressive agents (iodine, celandine juice, garlic, etc.) is undesirable and even dangerous, because such treatment is not suitable for gentle mucous membranes. Doctors and the idea of applying for the treatment of genital warts a veterinary drug "ASD" fraction 2, which is written a lot on the forums for the treatment of HPV.
"ASD-2" is a veterinary antiseptic and immunomodulator on the basis of adaptogens isolated from a living organism on the eve of its death, helping fight cells infected with viruses for life. For medical purposes, it has been used for a long time and successfully, although no doctor will prescribe a prescription for treatment based on it, because the medicine is officially intended for the treatment of animals.
Whatever it was, but the active discussion of this drug on the Internet in connection with the treatment of papillomavirus infection suggests that the medicine really helps. Take it preferably courses for 5 days with a 3-day break. Begin reception with 3-5 drops, gradually increasing the dose to 20-40 drops, and then reducing to the initial dosage. But in addition to the internal administration of the drug, the dosage of which is still worth discussing with the doctor, it is recommended that the fraction on warts and warts be applied to the anogenital area several times a day. The drug promotes resorption of neoplasms, so it must be applied daily until the growths disappear.
As you can see, it is possible to fight successfully even with such an infection-resistant infection as the human papillomavirus. If the course of treatment prescribed by the physician is followed, even highly-onoculated types of the papillomatous virus, which are considered to be cancer triggers in the reproductive system of men and women, like HPV types 18 and 16, can be inhibited.