Human papillomavirus infections in children
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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: March 11, 2014
1Department of Pediatric Dermatology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, New York, USA. nsilverberg@juno.com
Insights
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes warts in children, often resolving spontaneously. New destructive, immunologic therapies, and vaccines offer future containment of HPV infections and related oncogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common DNA virus causing warts in children.
- While many infections resolve spontaneously via immune response, up to one-third persist beyond two years.
- Current therapeutic options for pediatric HPV infections are diverse due to a lack of universally effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated review of human papillomavirus (HPV) and its therapeutic strategies in pediatric populations.
- To highlight recent advancements in the understanding and management of HPV infections in children.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent research on HPV therapies.
- Analysis of emerging immunologic and destructive treatment modalities.
- Evaluation of newly developed HPV vaccines for clinical application.
Main Results:
- Significant research progress has been made in developing novel HPV therapies.
- Destructive and immunologic treatment approaches show promise for managing pediatric warts.
- Vaccines targeting specific genital HPV types are now entering clinical use.
Conclusions:
- Future management of HPV infections in children will likely involve immune system modulation.
- Vaccination and immunotherapies are expected to play a key role in controlling HPV.
- These approaches may help prevent secondary HPV-related oncogenesis in the skin and cervix.
Purpose Of Review:
The human papillomavirus is a ubiquitous 55-nm DNA virus that causes a variety of clinical disease states in children, commonly referred to as warts. The natural history of warts is spontaneous regression through the development of a complex blend of cell-mediated and humoral immunity. Although spontaneous immunity can develop, as many as one third of children will have persistent human papillomavirus infection beyond 2 years. Therapeutic modalities are manifold, primarily because no therapy is universally effective. The purpose of this review is to update the reader with the latest information on the human papillomavirus and its therapeutics in children.
Recent Findings:
Recently, encouraging research has been conducted in human papillomavirus, including destructive and immunologic therapies. Vaccines tailored to genital human papillomavirus strains are just coming into clinical use.
Summary:
Manipulation of the immune system through medications or vaccination will likely help contain human papillomavirus in the future and prevent secondary human papillomavirus oncogenesis of the skin and cervix.
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