Signs & Symptoms of Advanced HPV

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) of the skin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 6 million new infections occur each year. There is a strong association between some types of HPV and cervical cancer in women and throat cancer in both men and women. Left untreated, many people clear the virus from their bodies. However, people with a compromised immune system may not clear the virus, and HPV can advance into more severe complications.

Widespread Warts

• A classic sign of HPV infection is genital warts. Without the immune system to keep the virus in check, warts spread to other areas of the body as the virus spreads through the skin. In general, a health care provider should evaluate any warts. Warts associated with HPV, which show up in other parts of the body, are cause for concern, and any evaluation should include an assessment of the patient's immune status.

Cancer

• Just like HPV can cause cervical and throat cancer in people with a normal immune system, advanced HPV infection can cause cancers in other parts of the body, such as anal cancer and skin cancer. Like any other cancer, HPV-related cancer is capable of migrating to other parts of the body.

Fever

• Infection triggers an immune response by the body, which includes fever. An uncontrolled fever has detrimental effects on organs throughout the body as the organs do not tolerate heat very well. Doctors should evaluate a person with an HPV infection along with a fever for widespread infection.