Hand-genital transmission of genital warts? An analysis of prevalence data

Abstract

The role of hand-genital transmission in the aetiology of genital warts is unclear. However this route is suggested by a number of observations including the relatively high proportion of genital warts in children which contain HPV types 1-4 (15% for children and 2% for adults). We compared two transmission models; one which assumes that hand-genital transmission occurs and one that it does not, and determined the conditions in which each model can reflect the available prevalence data. Hand-genital transmission provides a simple explanation of the observed differences in the proportions of genital warts containing HPV types 1-4 and 6/11 in children and adults. If hand-genital transmission does not occur, the observed difference could only be explained by an eightfold greater probability of transmission to children of types 1-4 than types 6/11, or by an eightfold greater duration of infection with types 1-4. Our findings provide support for the view that genital warts may be transmitted by hand-genital contact.

Natural history of oral papillomavirus infections in spouses: A prospective Finnish HPV Family Study

“…Similarly, oral and genital mucosas were shown to harbour different HPV types in women, simultaneously (Kellokoski et al, 1992a;Badaracco et al, 1998;Bennedetti Panici et al, 1998;Cañadas et al, 2004). Frequent detection of skin warts concomitantly with oral HPV DNA might suggest the possibility of hand-to-oral transmission (Kellokoski et al, 1992b;Terai et al, 1999), which parallels the findings of hand-genital transmission (Fairley et al, 1995;Sonnex et al, 1999). Apart from sexual transmission and auto-inoculation, other possible HPV transmission modes are horizontal transmission, vertical transmission and transmission via fomites or saliva (Syrjänen and Puranen, 2000).…”

Vulval Warts in the Paediatric Age Group: A Report of Three Cases

“…When seen, it may be associated with sexual abuse, vertical transmission, immune-suppression, or poor hygiene [7,8]. In Case 1, sexual abuse was likely due to the absence of the hymen, while in Case 2, there was poor hygiene; there was a possibility of autoinoculation in Case 3 as has been shown in some studies [1,9].…”

Disseminated human papillomavirus type 11 infection in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris: Confirmed by DNA analysis

“…[14][15] Young children may acquire genital warts from hand contact with nongenital lesions. 16 Our patient had received systemic glucocorticosteroid, immunosuppressants, or IVIG to control PV. Immunocompromised status may contribute to his disseminated HPV-11 infection.…”