Epidemiology of oral HPV infection in young healthy individuals

Abstract

HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection, and is associated with several neoplasms. To describe the epidemiology, natural history and risk factors associated with oral HPV infection in asymptomatic young adults. A prospective and longitudinal study was conducted, including subjects without oral pathology, who were sampled from the oral mucosa. All subjects with positive results were re-sampled 6 months later. The presence of HPV was identified by PCR. Demographic and sexual behavior data were obtained with a survey that was responded without the intervention of the researcher. 102 samples were collected from subject of 18-26 years old, 60 (58.8%) were male. The prevalence of the virus was 6.9%; all positive subjects had active sexual life. Same-gender relationships were the only variable associated with the presence of the virus (p < 0.05). At six months all subjects had eliminated the virus. Oral HPV infection is transient and is associated to same-gender relationships, mainly women who have sex with women.