Low-risk Human Papillomavirus: Genital Warts, Cancer and Respiratory Papillomatosis

Abstract Genital warts (GW) are a common sexually transmitted disease in young people usually caused by HPV 6 or HPV 11. GW are a significant public health problem worldwide. However, there are now some countries recording significant falls in the incidence of GW in specific age groups following the introduction of prophylactic vaccines containing HPVs 6 and 11 virus-like particles (VLPs). Laryngeal papillomatosis is a rare disease seen in both young children and adults, usually caused by HPV 6 or HPV 11. In children the disease is acquired by vertical transmission from the mother during childbirth, whereas in adults it is usually acquired through oro-genital sexual activity. Most commonly, there are multiple lesions in the larynx, although occasionally there is spread to the lower respiratory tract. In young children the lesions very frequently recur after treatment, and this also occurs, but less frequently, in adults. Following the introduction of HPVs 6 and 11 VLP vaccines, evidence has emerged in both Australia and Canada of a fall in the incidence of juvenile-onset laryngeal papillomatosis.