Epidemiology of oral human papillomavirus infection.
OBJECTIVE
To describe what is known about the epidemiology of oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.


METHODS
In this article we review current data on HPV prevalence, natural history, mode of acquisition, and risk factors for oral HPV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Over the past several years new studies have informed our understanding of oral HPV infection. These data suggest oral HPV prevalence is higher in men than women and support the sexual transmission of HPV to the mouth by oral sex. Data is emerging suggesting that most oral HPV infections usually clear within a year on and describing risk factors for prevalent and persistent infection. Recent data support likely efficacy of the HPV vaccine for oral HPV, suggesting vaccination may reduce risk of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.
Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Christine H
CH
Chung
Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Ashley
A
Bagheri
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States. Electronic address: gdsouza@jhsph.edu.
Gypsyamber
G
D'Souza
D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
Human papillomavirus; Incidence; Natural history; Oral infection; Oropharynx cancer; Prevalence