Can soaking in hot springs infect HPV

Recently, a netizen posted that they were infected with HPV while soaking in hot springs, which sparked heated discussions and made HPV a hot topic again.
Will soaking in hot springs lead to HPV infection? Dr. Chen Shuqin, Director of Gynecology at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat sen University, is here to answer any questions. Firstly, we need to understand the following: What is HPV? What are the conditions for its survival? How did it spread? How to detect HPV infection? What problems can HPV infection cause? Is there a way to reduce infection?
What is HPV?
HPV is a virus called "Human Papilloma Virus", also known as Human Papilloma Virus. HPV is a type of papillomavirus that primarily causes various types of papillomas or warts on the skin or mucous membranes.
HPV is a large family with over 200 types, which can be divided into high-risk and low-risk types.
High risk type: The main types are 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 61
Low risk type: The main types are 6, 11, 30, 39, 42, 43, 44, 53, 54, 81, etc
Why has HPV become an internet celebrity?
Because high-risk HPV is closely related to the most common gynecological malignancy - cervical cancer, everyone hopes to learn about it!
How does HPV survive?
Since HPV is a virus, it must have its parasitic host cells. Research has shown that humans are the sole host of HPV, and they prefer to live comfortably within the skin and mucous membranes of the human body, relying on a genetic material called spherical DNA to reproduce and survive.
Director Chen Shuqin pointed out that HPV is not delicate, it has strong resistance, can withstand dryness and survive for a long time, and can be inactivated by heating or formalin treatment. Therefore, high-temperature disinfection and 2% glutaraldehyde disinfection are necessary to inactivate HPV.
3. What are the common routes of HPV infection?
(1) Sexual transmission is the main route of HPV infection.
(2) Close contact. For example, direct contact with the infected person's genitals, reproductive tract secretions, etc.
(3) Indirect contact: through contact with the infected person's clothing, daily necessities, utensils, etc.
(4) Iatrogenic infection: Poor protection by medical personnel during treatment and nursing, resulting in self infection or transmission to patients through medical personnel.
(5) Maternal to child transmission: It is the close contact of infants through the birth canal of pregnant women.
How to detect HPV infection?
Checking for HPV usually requires the help of a doctor. Gynecologists can collect specimens and conduct related examinations, mainly through molecular biology methods such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and nucleic acid molecular hybridization technology.
These methods can be tested at all levels of hospitals and are very common. They can be quantitative or qualitative, and testing can be specific to each type or all types can be tested together.
5. What diseases can HPV infection lead to?
Different types of HPV cause significant differences in clinical manifestations, and each has its own characteristics, invading different tissues and parts of the human body. At present, the main classifications are as follows.
(1) Low risk skin types: including HPV-1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 15, etc., which are related to common warts, flat warts, plantar warts, etc;
(2) High risk skin type: HPV-5, 8, 14, 17, 20, 36, 38 are related to verruciform epidermal dysplasia. In addition, they are also related to the following malignancies, including vulvar cancer, penis cancer, anal cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer cancer, etc;
(3) Mucosal low-risk types, such as HPV-6, 11, 13, 32, 34, 40, 42, 43, 44, 53, 54, are associated with infections of the reproductive organs, anus, oropharynx, and esophageal mucosa;
(4) Mucosal high-risk types, such as HPV-16, 18, 30, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, are associated with cervical cancer, rectal cancer, oral cancer, tonsil cancer, etc.
The gynecological diseases we understand - cervical lesions and cervical cancer - are closely related to high-risk types of mucosa. This type of virus is something we need to focus on in the future.
6. Is there a way to reduce HPV infection?
HPV has so many hazards, no wonder everyone cares about it. Is there any way to reduce HPV infection?
Director Chen Shuqin introduced that the main approach is to enhance self-protection awareness in order to reduce the chances of HPV infection.
Firstly, reduce contact with HPV carriers, for example, do not use other people's towels, bath towels, pots, toilets, etc. Secondly, for those who have sexual activity, using condoms reduces the chance of mutual transmission. Finally, it is important to receive HPV vaccination as soon as possible. Of course, vaccination cannot cover all types of HPV. Currently, there are only bivalent, tetravalent, and nine valent vaccines available, which means that vaccines can only prevent infections of two, four, and nine types.
It can be seen that being careful not to touch other people's private tools and supplies is the main means to ultimately reduce HPV infection.