Human papilloma virus infection prior to coitarche
Received 8 July 2008; received in revised form 25 September 2008; accepted 22 December 2008. published online 09 March 2009.
Objective
The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and the natural course of anogenital human papilloma virus (HPV) infections in girls prior to coitarche attending an outpatient gynecological unit.
Study Design
Specimens were taken from the anogenital region of 114 unselected 4-15 year old girls who were referred consecutively for various gynecological problems.
Results
Four girls were excluded because of sexual abuse. Low-risk HPV-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was detected in 4 girls (3.6%) and high-risk HPV DNA in 15 children (13.6%). Two girls testing positive for HPV DNA had clinical apparent warts. After 1 year, 2 children had persistent high-risk HPV DNA, and in 1 case we found a switch from high-risk to low-risk HPV DNA.
Conclusion
Subclinical genital low- and high-risk HPV infections are common in girls without any history of sexual abuse or sexual activity. We found persistence of genital HPV infection in children, which could be a reservoir for HPV-associated diseases later in life.
aDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
bDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, District Hospital Schwaz, Tyrol, Austria
Reprints: Daniela Doerfler, MD, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Cite this article as: Doerfler D, Bernhaus A, Kottmel A, et al. Human papilloma virus infection prior to coitarche. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;200:487.e1-487.e5.
⁎ Both authors contributed equally to the study and article.
ABSTRACT
Human papilloma virus infection prior to coitarche