Genital HPV in Children and Adolescents: Does Sexual Activity Make a Difference?

To compare the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) genital infection among prepubertal children, sexually active and not sexually active adolescents, and assess potential risk factors for transmission.

Prospective study.

Outpatient adolescent health clinic.

Ninety-five girls aged 2-21 years; 38 sexually active adolescents (group A), 28 not sexually active adolescents (group B), and 29 prepubertal children (group C).

Participants' vaginal or cervical specimens were tested for HPV with the CLART HPV 2 assay (Clinical Array Technology, Genomica, Madrid, Spain) and for cytological abnormalities with liquid-based cytology.

Differences in prevalence of low- and high-risk HPV infections among the 3 groups.

Genital HPV was detected in 37.9% (36/95) of all participants; 47.4% (18/38) of group A, 28.6% (8/28) of group B, and 34.5% (10/29)of group C (P = .27). Multiple HPV infection was detected in 26.3% (10/38), 10.7% (3/28), and 13.8% (4/29) of groups A, B, and C, respectively (P = .21). High-risk genotypes were detected in 47.4% (18/38), 28.6% (8/28), and 24.1% (7/29) of groups A, B, and C, respectively (P = .10). Main high-risk genotypes were HPV 16 (27%, 10/37), HPV 31 (21.6%, 8/37 ), HPV 35 (13.5%, 5/37), HPV 53 (13.5%, 5/37), and low-risk HPV 6 (18.9%, 7/37). Sexual activity was associated with increased risk for genital high-risk HPV infection (odds ratio = 3.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-9.78); specifically with HPV 33 and HPV 51. Forty percent of sexually active adolescents with normal cervical cytology were infected with high-risk HPV types. Family history of skin HPV was positively associated with genital HPV in the sexually active group (odds ratio = 2.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-3.46).

Timeline and target population for HPV vaccination might need to be reappraised, in view of significant nonsexual transmission of genital HPV so early in childhood.