Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine: Gardasil reactions

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) as well as public health officials in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States recommend vaccination of young women against HPV to prevent cervical cancer, and to reduce the number of treatments for cervical cancer precursors. The death rate from cervical cancer in the United States is 3 per 100,000 and in 2011, about 12,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,000 died. In 2009, there were about 34,000 deaths from car accidents in the U.S. for a death rate of 11 per 100,000. HPV infection is extremely common; most sexually active people will be infected with HPV at some point in life. HPV infection usually causes no symptoms, but can cause genital warts and anal cancer in both women and men. The HPV vaccine prevents infection by the HPV types responsible for most cervical cancers. There are two available forms of the HPV vaccine: Cervarix; prevents infection by HPV-16 and HPV-18 and Gardasil; prevents infection by HPV-16, HPV-18, and also HPV-6 and HPV-11. There are many side events may caused by HPV vaccines such as; seizures, fatigue, strokes, dizziness, weakness, headaches, stomach pains, vomiting, muscle pain and weakness, joint pain, auto-immune problems, chest pains, hair loss, appetite loss, shortness of breath, heart problems, personality changes, insomnia, hand/leg tremors, arm/leg weakness, paralysis, itching, rashes, swelling, aching muscles, pelvic pain, nerve pain, menstrual cycle changes, fainting, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats, nausea, temporary vision/hearing loss. This topic review focused mainly on the side effects and health serious problems with Gardasil vaccine.