human papillomavirus
938 Views

GC: n

S: WHO – http://www.who.int/immunization/topics/hpv/en/ (last access: 18 November 2015); CDC – http://goo.gl/fY47TW (last access: 17 November 2015).

N: 1. – human (adj.) mid-15c., humain, humaigne, “human,” from Old French humain, umain (adj.) “of or belonging to man” (12c.), from Latin humanus “of man, human,” also “humane, philanthropic, kind, gentle, polite; learned, refined, civilized.”
– papilloma (n.) 1866, a modern Latin hybrid from papilla + -oma. Papilla (n.) plural papillae, 1690s, “nipple,” from Latin papilla “nipple,” diminutive of papula “swelling”. Meaning “nipple-like protuberance” attested from 1713.
– virus (n.) late 14c., “venomous substance,” from Latin virus “poison, sap of plants, slimy liquid, a potent juice”.
2. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a viral infection that is passed between people through skin-to-skin contact. There are more than 100 varieties of HPV, but most emphasis is given to the 40 varieties that affect the genitals, mouth, or throat, that are passed through sexual contact.
3. In most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer.
Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or groups of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area.
Cervical cancer usually does not have symptoms until it is quite advanced, very serious and hard to treat. For this reason, it is important for women to get regular screening for cervical cancer. Screening tests can find early signs of disease so that problems can be treated early, before they ever turn into cancer.
Other HPV-related cancers might not have signs or symptoms until they are advanced and hard to treat. These include cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, and oropharynx (cancers of the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils).
4. Cultural interrelation: Michael Douglas, the famous face of HPV.

S: 1. OED – http://goo.gl/f9jp (last access: 17 November 2015). 2. Healthline Reference Library – http://goo.gl/lSNIxb (last acces: 17 November 2015). 3. CDC – http://goo.gl/o6uqbJ (last access: 17 November 2015). 4. The Guardian – http://goo.gl/zThtoX (last access: 17 November 2015).

SYN: HPV, papillomavirus.

S: TERMIUM PLUS (last access: 18 November 2015)

CR: cancerology, cervical cancer, virus.