HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV)

A family of over 60 viruses responsible for causing warts. The majority of the viruses produce warts on the hands, fingers, and even the face. Most of these viruses are innocuous, causing nothing more than cosmetic concerns. Several types of HPV are confined primarily to the moist skin of the genitals, producing genital warts and elevating the risk for cancer of the cervix. The papilloma viruses that cause wartlike growths on the genitals are sexually transmitted.