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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffHPV infection is a condition contracted from one of a group of more than 100 related human papillomaviruses (HPVs).
Each type of HPV has the potential to cause an abnormal growth on a particular part of your body — genital warts and other lesions on or near your genitals or anus, common warts on your hands, plantar warts on your feet, and warts and other lesions in your mouth and upper respiratory system.
HPV infections are common. About 20 million people in the United States have HPV infections that can cause genital warts and related lesions. Some types of HPV infection can cause cancer, such as cervical cancer, but most HPV infections don't lead to cancer.
- Human papillomavirus: HPV information for clinicians. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/common-clinicians/ClinicianBro-fp.pdf. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Warts, herpes simplex, and other viral infections. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/118486619-4/0/1195/75.html?tocnode=51441112&fromURL=75.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Reichman R. Epidemiology of human papillomavirus infections. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Cancer facts & figures 2008. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/2008CAFFfinalsecured.pdf. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Reichman R. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of human papillomavirus infections. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Human papillomaviruses and cancer: Questions and answers. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
- Reichman R. Treatment and prevention of human papillomavirus infections. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 30, 2009.
- Reichman RC. Human papillomavirus infections. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2895508&searchStr=human+papillomavirus. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
- HPV vaccine information for young women. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/Hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
- The Pap test. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp085.cfm. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2006. MMWR Recommendations and Reports. 2006;55:1. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5511a1.htm. Accessed Feb. 2, 2009.
- HPV vaccine: Questions and answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hpv/vac-faqs.htm. Accessed Jan. 22, 2010.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 0 to 18 years - United States. MMWR. 2010;58:1. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5851a6.htm. Accessed Jan. 8, 2010.
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