Quirónsalud experts recommend the human papillomavirus vaccine for all ages and genders

He human papilloma virus (HPV) is sexually transmitted infection is more common and affects both women and men. The most important consequence is that the infection can cause cancer. For this reason, experts recommend vaccination for people of all ages and genders, and on Tuesday Quirónsalud Málaga will establish speaker to reportthus complementing the summer prevention campaign. According to Dr. Jessica Martin Orlando, lead gynecologist for HPV at the Quironsalud Malaga Hospital, “HPV is responsible for approximately 100% of cervical cancers, 90% of anal cancers and 70% of oropharyngeal and vaginal cancers.” “It is largely preventable through vaccination in both girls and boys.”

Maybe vaccinate someoneregardless of age or gender. In Andalusia, girls and boys aged 12 to 18, as well as people in risk groups for HPV, can be vaccinated against HPV for free. But vaccination is possible and recommended at any age. “Communicating this is an important task for us as doctors, because most may think that once sexual relations have begun, they can no longer be vaccinated. Nothing could be further from the truth. Vaccination is recommended even if you already have the virus,” the doctor explained. In this regard, he noted that “those patients who have the virus, we should vaccinate them even more, because we can have the virus, eliminate it and become infected again. Therefore, we always recommend vaccination, regardless of gender or age.” . ”

HPV is sexually transmitted infection It is also more common in the summer, and experts recommend going to the doctor for a check-up. For this reason, the Quirónsalud Málaga Hospital is joining this summer prevention campaign by organizing an exhibition with tips in its health corner in the day hospital (on Pilar Lorengar Street from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00:00) this Tuesday.

During the day, anyone can learn about HPV and the consequences of contracting this sexually transmitted infection, and also learn that this virus can be prevented by visiting a gynecologist. You can also get information and join this summer campaign to raise awareness about HPV on social networks with the hashtag #elvphescosadetodos. In this way, it “contributes to maximizing and improving the population’s knowledge about this sexually transmitted infection, which is so common that up to 80% of sexually active patients are infected with the virus at some point in their lives.”

“Fortunately,” continues Dr. Martin Orlando, “in most cases this transient infection; This means that we acquire a viral infection and only the body, the immune system, eliminates it. ” But he warned that “this is not always the case: if this infection persists, then it can cause precancerous lesions of cervical cancer. In Quirónsalud, they noted that “cervical cancer is a disease that can be prevented; “We can do something to prevent cancer from occurring.” To do this, we must attend periodic check-ups and, above all, “the main thing: get vaccinated.”

Vaccination against HPV is included in the calendar for girls and boys from 12 years of age (up to 18). But vaccination This is possible and recommended at any age. For his part, Dr. Manuel Baca, head of the pediatric service at the Quironsalud Hospital of Malaga, emphasizes that cancer “is the greatest health scourge in Europe; the second cause of death from disease on the way to the first.” ” He explained that “the opposite of this situation is that we have quite effective tools, as in the case of HPV, which affects about 30,000 girls and 20,000 boys in Europe, of which about half will die from cancer caused by HPV. So it is important and outstanding that the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded precisely for the invention of this vaccine.”

“It is time to raise our voice to end the continued existence of HPV infections and deaths, and to make vaccine and prevention the fundamental and leading element in this situation,” the doctor said.

HPV subtypes

From more than 100 subtypes of HPV that exist, specialists pay special attention to 16 and 18, which are responsible for the formation of carcinomas. And not only of the cervix, but also other types of cancer, such as oropharynx or oral cavity. “Among patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer, about 14% are HPV positive, with an increasing trend. Currently, this is the main cause of this cancer,” said Dr. Daniel Collings, specialist in the otolaryngology service of Quironsalud Malaga. This type of cancer “is transmitted through direct contact with the mucous membranes, especially during sexual relations of any type: anal, vaginal or oral. And not only in the case of patients with lesions, but also patients without lesions can transmit the virus.”

According to the ENT doctor, “you need to be alarmed before symptoms for example, a sore throat, pain when moving the tongue, or problems with jaw articulation, as well as sores or lesions in the mouth or lumps on the neck; lymphadenopathy.” Collings noted that if any lesion appears in the mouth, tongue, tonsils or neck lumps, “do not hesitate to quickly contact your ENT doctor for adequate examination and diagnosis.” “Vaccine and Barrier First: Condom Use.”

He Quironsalud Hospital Group is currently being taken into account Andalusia with eight hospital centers located in the cities of Malaga, Marbella, Los Barrios (Cadiz), three in Seville, Cordoba and Huelva, as well as 17 specialized and diagnostic medical centers and a surgical day hospital.