As much as 7 percent. Americans, both women and men between the ages of 14 and 69, have had their mouth infected with the human papillomavirus HPV, a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed.
Men are especially often infected. From the studies conducted in 2009-2011, 5,6 thous. people show that 10 percent. of them are infected with this virus and 4 percent. women. Most often they are infected with the HPV-16 virus, the most dangerous type of this germ. It occurs five times more often in men than in women.
HPV-16 is the leading cause of human papillomavirus-related oral malignancies. In women, it also increases the risk of cervical cancer, one of the most dangerous malignant neoplasms.
Dr. Maura Gillison, an oncologist at Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus, says infection is more common in people who have more sexual partners, and in cigarette smokers.
He explains that smoking is likely to destroy the lining of the mouth, making it easier for the virus to penetrate while also weakening the immune system.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, genital human papillomavirus infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection. For this reason, the CDC recommends that girls and women 11-26 years of age be vaccinated against HPV.
Oral infection with this germ is most common in people aged 30 to 34.
“Fortunately, although HPV infection is common, mouth cancer is still rare. It follows that most infected people do not get this type of cancer, “says Dr. Gillison.
Dr. Janice Dutcher, an oncologist at Continuum Cancer Centers of St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York reminds that HPV can also cause anal cancer. Therefore, it is not surprising that this germ promotes all three types of cancer: cervical, oral and anus – adds the scientist.
In her opinion, boys should be vaccinated against HPV as well as girls.