Are Genital Warts An Indication Of Child Abuse?

It is a very good course of action for adults who have noted genital warts in a child to contact the social services. Over the years, pediatricians have believed that genital warts are an indication that child abuse has taken place. More recently, these professionals base their decision on more than the occurrence of genital warts in children. There is a very good reason for this and it comes from highly experienced professionals in the field of child abuse.

One such highly specialized professional is Dr Sara Sinal. She is a pediatrician working at the Brenner Children’s Hospital. Cases that involve the abuse of children are her specialty. She noticed that the virus that is the root cause of genital warts is also found in children who suffer from laryngeal warts. These are warts that occur in the throat and mouth. For this reason these children are placed under the care of an ENT (ear nose and throat specialist). Even though these children carried the HPV (virus that causes genital warts) these children were not victims of sexual abuse.

It is true that the virus is exactly the same as the one that causes genital warts but it is in a different area of the body. Because the warts are not in the genital area it is not assumed that they are linked to abuse. Dr Sara Sinal and her colleagues examined just how the diagnosis of child abuse and genital warts was made. Dr Sinal is of the opinion that children who have not been abused can have genital warts. This can happen without sexual contact having happened. She recommends that Social Services should only be contacted if there are also other implications of abuse in children. She has stated that it is devastating for a family and the child to have to deal with a report that is not true. Dr Sinal and her team advise that each and every child must be very carefully examined to completely rule out sexual abuse.

There are children who have genital warts who have never been abused and there are those without genital warts who are indeed victims of abuse. HPV can make warts appear in the mucous membranes. These can be found in the respiratory organs, mouth, genitals and anus. Genital warts are undoubtedly the most rampant of all the venereal diseases in the United States. If an expectant mother is infected with HPV the chances are very great that it will pass from her to the unborn child.

Whether genital warts are evident in adults or children it is vital to get to a medical practitioner as soon as you can. It is best to start treatment right away so the warts do not spread over a larger area. This makes it harder to get rid of. The only one who can decide whether or not a child may have genital warts due to child abuse is a trained medical practitioner.

Presence Of Genital Warts Means Avoid Foreplay

It is unfortunate that the HPV virus is so easily spread. The Human Papillomavirus is passed on by contact with the skin of a person who carries the virus. If you should notice that your partner has bumps then it would be wise to avoid all contact until you have both seen a doctor. The usual way for couples to have sexual relations is to proceed with foreplay. This of course does involve touching skin. There is no doubt that genital warts will pass on the infection through the practice of foreplay and in fact contact for any reason. You may be under the impression that using a condom will prevent genital warts but this is not so. It is impossible for a condom to cover all the area of skin that is infected. Do not rely on condoms for this purpose at all.

It is highly likely that the genital warts will touch the hands and mouth of couples engaged in foreplay. Even if couples forgo foreplay and have sexual intercourse the virus will spread. If your skin comes into contact with the skin of an infected person there is a very high risk of you getting genital warts. There are people who believe that only sexual intercourse will pass on the HPV virus. This is a myth as any activity between people that involves skin to skin contact with an infected area will result in the spread of the virus.

It must be remembered that the areas not covered by a condom such as the scrotum and the base of a penis are typically where the genital warts develop. Very often genital warts are covered by pubic hair growth. During foreplay the act of rubbing can easily distribute the virus. It has been noted that there is a decrease in the possibility of becoming infected with genital warts if you use water and soap to wash after any kind of sexual contact. But remember that this is not a sure thing.

A medical doctor will be able to identify genital warts that are the result of the HPV virus by examining them. When it comes to female patients a doctor may use a special lense that is called a colposcope to verify the verdict. The best means of discovering HPV in females is by a Pap smear. This test is foolproof.

If you discover that you have genital warts see a doctor straight away. It is also only fair to let your partner know. Because this is such a highly contagious condition it is probably sensible for both of you to be examined by a doctor. Both of you can then be advised on how to live with this virus.

Genital Warts Latest Research Covers Risks

There has been a great deal of research done on genital warts for awhile. The research began in earnest when it was realized that genital warts is the sexually transmitted disease that is the most widespread throughout the United States. Contracting this particular virus does have serious consequences. There are strains that carry a high cancer risk. It has been noted that women who have the virus have difficulty in conceiving. The virus is highly contagious and spread through sexual contact. Genital warts are very unattractive to look at. It is not easy to rid the body of these warts. When they do disappear they can come back but the virus does not leave the system. This means that there is no actual cure for the virus.

There is a lot of research being done and it has culminated in the development of a vaccine. This vaccine is given to girls from the age of nine years all the way up to women of twenty six years of age. The vaccine is called Gardasil. Gardasil is a protection against four strains of HPV. The vaccine must be administered in three shots over six months. These four kinds of HPV are responsible for seventy percent of cancer of the cervix. These four strains are also responsible for ninety percent of the cases of genital warts. This vaccine is the latest of all the research done on genital warts. The vaccine is not given to boys and men because it is not known whether or not is effective. But the research on the vaccine for use in males continues. It is hoped that the vaccine will prevent penile and anal cancer in males.

Because of this latest research on genital warts, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently licensed this vaccine for use in girls and women from nine to 26 years of age. The vaccine is given through a series of three shots over a six month period. Women who were vaccinated five years previously have been monitored. All these women are still protected against the virus. It is not yet known just how long this protection will last. It may be possible that women would need to have a booster vaccine, years after the first.

The research that has been done up to this point does show that there are a variety of treatments available for genital warts. There are natural remedies that have been used for generations. Over the counter medication is available but not always recommended by medical practitioners. Prescription treatment must be administered by a doctor. All the treatments are of varying strengths and prices. But it is the vaccine that has shown the greatest promise in dealing with this virus that is being spread at such a fast pace.

Genital Warts In Females

The virus that causes genital warts in females is exactly the same as the virus that causes genital warts in males. It is the HPV. The virus is transmitted from one person to another by means of sexual contact. All that is needed for transmission of this virus is to have contact with the infected skin. In females the manifestation of the virus is by means of genital warts. These warts can be in clusters or lone bumps. The genital warts that are clustered have the appearance of cauliflower. The warts will appear in the area of the vagina, anus and genitals.

It is indeed fortunate that the majority of strains of the virus in females will not inflict any harm. But there are those that could increase your risk if getting cervical cancer. These dangerous strains are capable of causing the cells of the cervix to change. The cervix is the opening to the womb. The cells of the anus can also be changed by these strains. Any woman who has genital warts must have a pap smear every 6 months. There have been studies that have shown that women infected with HPV struggle to fall pregnant and use in vitro methods.

Genital warts in females may lead to the sensation of tenderness, itching and even burning. Genital warts can grow inside the vagina. Warts in this area can produce bleeding especially after sexual relations. There may also be the presence of an unusual discharge from the vagina. A woman may experience only one or many outbreaks of genital warts. If a woman has genital warts it is highly likely that will be passed on to a sexual partner. This is a highly infectious stage. But genital warts are often so tiny that they are not detected.

It is possible to treat genital warts at home but it is best to get the advice of your doctor. Other treatments that are regarded as successful have to be applied by a medical practitioner. Especially when it entails the use of strong chemicals that are needed to dry out the genital warts so that they will drop off or disappear. These chemicals have to be so carefully applied onto the warts and in such minute quantities that it must be carried out by an expert. If the chemicals get onto the surrounding skin it will cause a lot of irritation and even damage.

As soon as genital warts due to HPV are diagnosed in a female it is essential that treatment is started. Another essential step is to inform the partner of the infected person. It is likely that both parties will have to receive medical advice regarding genital warts and the HPV.

Genital Warts – Males Find It Harder To Diagnose

Firstly, what must be understood is that genital warts in males are not the actual disease, but the physical manifestation of the HPV virus. Getting the warts in the genital area means you have been infected by the HPV virus. The genital warts can vary hugely in form and appearance; they can appear as smooth, pebbly lumps or rough, fingerlike protrusions and they can appear on the penis, scrotum, rectal area and urethra. Often males overlook small genital warts as they are obscured by pubic hair and only realize much later that they have been infected once lumps appear in more exposed areas.

It is very important that men understand that any form of treatment for genital warts cannot cure the HPV virus, the goal of treatment is to try to stop the spread of the viral infection and to remove the actual genital warts. You must also realize that as long as the HPV virus is alive in your body, you can have recurring outbreaks of genital warts that will have to be treated. Also, until the virus dies, you are able to pass on this virus to your sexual partners, especially as condoms do not always cover the affected areas. There is only one way to reliably prevent the spread of the infection and that is to not have skin contact with any infected tissue.

There are several forms of treatment available to treat genital warts and not all treatments are equally successful for all cases. It may be trial and error to find the exact treatment that works the best for you. Your doctor can provide treatment in his office in the form of Cryotherapy, where the male genital warts are removed with liquid nitrogen. There is also the option of using a chemical compound called TCS [trichloracetic acid] for removal of the genital warts. Another option is electrocautery; this is where an intense laser light is used to burn away the male genital warts, but this is a costly procedure and not all doctors have this option available to patients. Whatever form of treatment your doctor decides on will depend on exactly where the genital warts are located, the number of warts to be treated and also the size of the warts.

You also have the option of using prescription treatments at home to treat your genital warts yourself. Doctors strongly advise against home treatment of genital warts for the genital area is most delicate and the harsh chemicals contained in topical creams for treatment of genital warts can damage the skin. It is understandable though that often people prefer to use home treatments where they can apply the treatment in privacy and if you decide to go ahead with home treatment, you can use creams such as Imiquimod or Podofilox.