Condylomata acuminata ( anogenital warts )

ETIOLOGY — Condyloma acuminatum is caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. HPV encompasses a family of highly infectious and primarily sexually transmitted double-stranded DNA viruses. The incubation period after exposure ranges from three weeks to eight months. Most infections are transient and cleared within two years [2]. Persistent infections in the setting of other clinical risk factors (such as infection with the human immunodeficiency virus) is associated with the development of squamous cell carcinoma [3,4]. There are over 70 distinct HPV subtypes; approximately 35 types are specific for the anogenital epithelium and have varying potentials to cause malignant change, such as cervical or anal cancer (show table 1) [5]. HPV serotypes 16 and 18 are most commonly associated with squamous cell carcinoma. Low-risk subtypes, such as HPV 6 and 11, do not integrate into the host genome and are most frequently associated with benign condylomas and low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (show table 2). Intermediate risk subtypes can cause high grade dysplasia which persists but rarely progresses to the invasive stage.