Human Papillomavirus Infection and Prevention In The Adolescent
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a common sexually transmitted disease, most often acquired during the adolescence or the early 20s. It can be divided into oncogenic and nononcogenic serotypes. It is responsible for genital warts as well as pathologic diseases that can lead to genital cancers and cancers of the oropharyngeal tract in both males and females. The majority of adolescents who acquire HPV infections do not go on to develop cancer. New discoveries about the virus’ persistence and latency direct how we treat adolescents with HPV infections. Recommendations for prevention of HPV include use of the 9-valent vaccine against the most common oncogenic HPV serotypes. Screening should be delayed until the age of 21, with the exception of immunocompromised women. The HPV vaccination is safe and effective, and does not encourage sexual activity among adolescents. Both boys and girls should be vaccinated against HPV at 11 to 12 years of age but may receive the vaccination as early as 9 or as late as 21 (males) or 26 (females) years of age. The vaccine may now also be given in only two doses if the series was started before the age of 15. Follow-up studies in the years after the vaccine’s introduction have shown large decreases in HPV infection rates. This review contains 7 figures, 7 tables and 63 references Key Words: Oncogenic subtype, Oropharyngeal cancer, Infection persistence, Immune tolerance, Cervical dysplasia, Genital warts, 9-valent vaccine, Vaccine safety