Investigation – The Siasat daily

New Delhi: Nearly 50% of middle-aged women in India have positive cases of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) – the leading risk factor for cervical cancer, reports a report. of SRL Diagnostics.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that is widespread worldwide. There are more than 100 types of HPV, of which at least 14 are carcinogenic (also called high risk types).

The virus is mainly transmitted through badual contact and most people are infected with HPV shortly after the onset of badual activity.

Two types of HPV (16 and 18) account for 70% of cervical cancers and precancerous cervical lesions.

Analysis of HPV test reports of 4,500 Panindian women between 2014 and 2018 showed that women aged 31-45 years had the highest percentage of HPV at high risk, 47%.

Then come 30% of women aged 16 to 30 years.

Cervical cancer accounts for one-third of all deaths worldwide, with 74,000 deaths each year, and is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in India.

However, "cervical cancer is also the only cancer that can be prevented if care is taken at the initial stage," said B.R Das of SRL Diagnostics in a statement released here Saturday.

"The high death rate from cervical cancer worldwide could be reduced through a comprehensive approach that includes screening, early diagnosis and treatment programs," he added.

In addition to vaccination before girls become badually active, secondary prevention can be performed by a regular Pap smear cervical smear, which can detect all abnormal cells of the cervix before they become cancerous.

"While the PAP test is far more likely to omit precancerous cervical disease, the HPV test is more sensitive to detecting a localized and slightly less sensitive infection for a distant infection," noted Das.

Source: IANS