Hpv or human papillomavirus is a common infection that affects millions of individuals every year. Oral hpv refers to the infection affecting the oral region or cavities. Normally hpv infection affects the epithelial membrane in different regions of the body and this causes abnormal changes in the cells within the body.

There are in excess of 100 hpv types and around 30 of these can result in oral hpv conditions or problems. In many cases the oral hpv condition does not result in lesions. Those individuals suffering from HIV infection may have lesions caused by oral hpv condition due to impairment of the immune system.

It is not really know how hpv infection can infiltrate within oral cavities but research indicates that oral genital contact may be one of the reasons for this transmission. Hpv may be transmitted due to mouth to mouth contact and in rare cases it may also be transmitted by an infected mother to her newborn during delivery.

In oral hpv infection focal epithelial hyperplasia, oral papillomas and oral condylomas may be observed. In some cases oral hpv infection is also associated with orpharyngeal cancer. Oral genital contact is deemed to be the main way this infection is transmitted. In major cases the oral hpv infection may go away but in some cases it can result in chronic and recurrent repiratory papillomatosis.

The respiratory papillomatosis condition may be characterised by development of benign tumour or papillomas in the upper and the lower respiratory tract. These papillomas can be removed surgically and in some cases they tend to reoccur. So treatment of this condition is quite difficult. In most cases of oral hpv infection the lesions tend to appear on a person’s lips but in some cases they are also reported on the tongue, palate and the gingival. In many cases the infection may also be asymptomatic.