Human papillomavirus DNA presence of the upper respiratory tract mucosa of healthy children.

The papillomaviruses are a group of small DNA (8 kbp) viruses which induce papillomas in human and animals. Most of them can also transform epithelial cells of human and other vertebrates. Examinations of children with Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP), using PCR method with specific primers, revealed HPV type 6 or/and 11 in 98%-100% tissue samples. Little is known about HPV infection in upper respiratory tract of healthy children. The group of 201 healthy children (from 3 to 10 years old) was laryngologically examined. The smears from noses and throats were studied for the presence of HPV viruses DNA. PCR was performed as described by Tucker et al. 28.8% of children from the study group were HPV positive. The presence of HPV in respiratory tract in children is relatively high. "High risk" HPV are not observed in the respiratory tract in children. The Human Papillomavirus in children may be transmitted by direct contacts.