HPV is an etremely common STI (sexually transmitted infection) which about half of all sexually active men and women will be exposed to in their life. HPV is the leading cause of oral cancer. One of the same strains that is responsible for causing cervical cancer is also the most common strain that is associated with oral cancer. It is suspected that this strain is being transmitted through oral sex. HPV is no longer just a girl thing. Boys are not just carriers of this disease anymore, they are contracting it as well. It may show up as a persistant sore in their mouth, but for the most part the signs do not appear until long after the disease has been contracted. Therefore, this disease can spread like wildfire without a person even knowing it. Dentist are doing a lot of the screening for this, and it is as simple as getting a saliva test.
Simple fix to keep your child safe from contracting HPV: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that boys and girls as young as eleven should recieve the HPV vaccine.
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