Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
|
|
 |  |
 |
 |
Genital Warts Immunity-- Is the virus eliminated or is it just hiding?
Apr 5, 2003
I searched previous messages on this site and read that HPV immunity can occur in individuals. This is when the immune system recognizes the virus and eliminates the warts from the body.
I am confused about this though. Does that mean that the individual will no longer have symptoms, but the HPV DNA is still present in their cells? Or, does it mean that the virus has been completely eliminated from the body and the person is no longer contagious or seceptible to that strain?
I have read that common warts in children usually go away on their own over a period of a couple months to years. Do these children still have HPV DNA in their skin, or are they completely rid of the virus?
|
 |
|
 |
|
Response from Dr. Dezube
The majority of folks who get HPV infected (human papilloma virus, wart virus) will actually ELIMINATE the virus completely from the body. These studies were performed in college woman in which it was shown that many got HPV infected and then cleared the infection. However, some folks will just suppress the virus so that the HPV genes are still in the cell. For others, the HPV will actively replicate. So many scenarios are possible. HIV-positive patients are more likely NOT to eliminate the HPV virus from their bodies, when compared to HIV-negative folks.
|
|
|
 Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
Copyright notice.
|
|
|
|
