Name the disease caused by human papilloma virus?

Appeared in: HPSSC - 2015

Explanation

Warts, also known as verrucae, are benign skin tumors caused by infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is a DNA virus that infects the basal cells of the skin or mucous membranes, causing epidermal proliferation and the characteristic appearance of a wart.
There are many types of warts, including common warts (verruca vulgaris), plantar warts (on the soles of the feet), and genital warts (condylomata acuminata), all caused by different strains of HPV.
The key differentiator is that HPV is the direct viral cause of warts, whereas the other conditions have different etiologies (other viruses or autoimmune processes).

Option B: Herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, is caused by the reactivation of the Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. It is not caused by HPV.
Option C: Psoriasis is a chronic, non-infectious autoimmune disease. It is characterized by an overactive immune system that speeds up skin cell growth, leading to plaques and scales. It is not caused by a virus.
Option D: Herpes simplex is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), specifically HSV-1 (typically causing oral herpes or cold sores) and HSV-2 (typically causing genital herpes). It is a different family of viruses from HPV.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Causative agent of warts helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a crucial role in educating patients about HPV, including transmission, prevention, and the importance of the HPV vaccine.
Patient counseling should emphasize that while most warts are harmless, certain HPV strains are linked to cancer, making regular screenings (like Pap tests for cervical cancer) vital.
What if? A patient with genital warts asks if they have cancer. The nurse should explain that the types of HPV that cause most genital warts (Types 6 and 11) are low-risk and rarely cause cancer. However, they should still be encouraged to follow up with their provider for regular cancer screenings, as co-infection with high-risk types is possible.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is to link a specific virus (Human Papillomavirus) to a disease.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge base about common pathogens and the diseases they cause.
Evaluate each option. Recall or look up the causative agent for each condition.
Option A: Warts are known to be caused by HPV.
Option B: Herpes zoster is caused by the Varicella-zoster virus.
Option C: Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, not viral.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 4 p. 89-91

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 1166-1168

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 2061-2063

Practise the full HPSSC - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.