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Can HPV Infection Of The Anal Skin Persist In The System?

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Posted on Wed, 16 Nov 2016
Question: I was once infected with anal HPV low-risk 3 years ago. I am a 20 years old XXXXXXX person, who have XXXXXXX sex. I went for check up many times, but never had ANY reccurence since then. Can you please confirm to me if the following statements are true of false, provide further explanations or correct me when I'm wrong?

I do not have any risk of cancer, because low-risk types do not lead to cancer, only high-risk does. Is it true?
Low-risk means no reccurence of infection, only high-risk will generate reccurences. Is it true?
Biogically I am cured, therefore no more recurrence and I have nothing to contaminate anyone. Theorically, I still have the virus, because technically viruses cannot be completely eliminated by the body, only supressed and controlled. This is like a scar, you bleed, you heal, then the scar stays, but the scar is just trace, it cannot do anything. It's like asking, did you ever fall from a bike? You say yes, but I'm fine now, you can only see the scar. Is this comparable?
The two years mark of the supression of the viral load has only to do with high-risk HPV, low-risk never has recurrence of infection once cleared, therefore the period of 2 years of the reccurence risk does not apply to my case.
If the period applies, it has been anyhow 3 years that I had nothing and still have nothing. As a person who once got infected with low-risk HPV, will it reoccur EVER AGAIN in my life? If yes, in what circumstances?
Should i talk about it to my potential life partner? Or is it useless, as nothing may never appear?


doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Most hpv infections are taken care of by body's immunity

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist and venereologist).

I have gone through your query and I have noted your concern

Low risk HPV types carries a very low risk of cancer as compared to high risk HPV types.

Recurrence can occur with both low risk and high risk HPV types but there is more chance for a high risk HPV infection to persist and at least 5% of high risk HPV progress to cancer.

Majority of low risk and high risk HPV infection resolves with time (eradicated) and is taken care by body's own immunity. The time for this is to occur varies but most of those infected are free of infection after 2 years. So if you have had no recurrence since 3 years and since you were infected with low risk HPV you can assume that you are cured of that infection provided you did not acquire a new infection with a different HPV type during this period.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (19 minutes later)
Dear Dr Dakkar,

Thank you for your detailed answer. So as I am cured, I am not contagious, am I right?

Also, will it be possible for the virus to REACTIVATE and cause infection again in my life?
If yes, can you list me the condition for it to reactivate and cause warts again?
If no, can you please explain why?

Thank you very much
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (22 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Unlikely to reactivate

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

As I said, most of the HPV infections are taken care of by body's innate immunity and therefore a person who is wart free for more than 2 years can be assumed to be free of HPV infection and hence unlikely to recur provided the person has not been re-infected with HPV.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (6 hours later)
Dear Dr Kakkar,

Thank you for your answer. I just have one last question topic.

I have read that some people get the warts back however later in life, multiple years after the infection (5-10 years+). Some women also get it back when they are older. I have read that this is due to immune deficiency, as you get older, and as you may have a disease. So my question is:

Will the warts come back when I have immune deficiency ? Such as smoking, drinking, flu/cold, and AGEING (when I'm older)?

Because they have found in old woman that HPV reactivates, will this be my case as I get older when my immune is weak?

And if it is true that reactivation is caused due to immune deficiency, at what level of deficiency (what cause, what disease) are the warts risking to come back? In other words, how sick do I have to be for it to come back? What cause, what disease and especially what probability in that case?

Thank you again, your answers to this will complete all my doubts in my future, and I appreciate if you can detail your answer for the sub-questions.

Kindest Regards,

XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (23 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Immune deficiency predispose to persistance of HPV and long term recurrence

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Immune deficiency predisposes to persistance of HPV infection and long term recurrences. This is what happens in patients with HIV infection. They have more chances of new HPV infection as well as persistance of infection leading to long term recurrences. However, those with healthy immune system are able to eradicate the virus until there is a reinfection.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (10 minutes later)
Thank you for your answer, but my question was more likely :

If my immune system weakens (without talking about HIV, but more about when I get older, am hospitalized, or have a disease) will the warts come back ?


Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (23 hours later)
Brief Answer:
HPV does not recur after eradication

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

No. Unless its a new infection because you have most likely eradicated HPV infection.

Regards
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Kakkar

Dermatologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 9612 Questions

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Can HPV Infection Of The Anal Skin Persist In The System?

Brief Answer: Most hpv infections are taken care of by body's immunity Detailed Answer: Hello. Thank you for writing to us I am dr.kakkar (dermatologist and venereologist). I have gone through your query and I have noted your concern Low risk HPV types carries a very low risk of cancer as compared to high risk HPV types. Recurrence can occur with both low risk and high risk HPV types but there is more chance for a high risk HPV infection to persist and at least 5% of high risk HPV progress to cancer. Majority of low risk and high risk HPV infection resolves with time (eradicated) and is taken care by body's own immunity. The time for this is to occur varies but most of those infected are free of infection after 2 years. So if you have had no recurrence since 3 years and since you were infected with low risk HPV you can assume that you are cured of that infection provided you did not acquire a new infection with a different HPV type during this period. Regards