Human papillomavirus infections in children

Abstract

The human papillomavirus is a ubiquitous 55-nm DNA virus that causes a variety of clinical disease states in children, commonly referred to as warts. The natural history of warts is spontaneous regression through the development of a complex blend of cell-mediated and humoral immunity. Although spontaneous immunity can develop, as many as one third of children will have persistent human papillomavirus infection beyond 2 years. Therapeutic modalities are manifold, primarily because no therapy is universally effective. The purpose of this review is to update the reader with the latest information on the human papillomavirus and its therapeutics in children. Recently, encouraging research has been conducted in human papillomavirus, including destructive and immunologic therapies. Vaccines tailored to genital human papillomavirus strains are just coming into clinical use. Manipulation of the immune system through medications or vaccination will likely help contain human papillomavirus in the future and prevent secondary human papillomavirus oncogenesis of the skin and cervix.