Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease that can potentially cause a variety of different illnesses. HPV is sometimes a silent infection, without any signs or symptoms. Therefore, HPV can be a life-threatening disease that can lead to death from cancer or respiratory obstruction. HPV is a disease that is preventable through vaccination, or even by building your own immunity. There are many types of HPV that can cause infections, some of which are mild, while others promote cancer. Efforts are being made to reduce the incidence and prevalence of HPV worldwide. Characteristics of HPV disease The causative agent is HPV, a virus consisting of a double-stranded DNA helix that infects epithelial cells (CDC). HPV is present in men and is transmitted through sexual contact consisting of vaginal, anal, oral, and genital-to-genital exposure. In very rare cases, a mother may expose her baby during labor and delivery (CDC). Entry and exit portals are via the skin. Being asymptomatic and unaware of the infection is very common with the different types of HPV. The period of transmissibility of HPV is unknown because there are many variants of the virus that result in different presentations, and there is an absence of signs and symptoms for many of these variations. Natural immunity can occur when exposure occurs and remains dormant while the immune system destroys the virus. The final complicating factor in transmissibility is that there can be simultaneous exposure and infection to multiple HPV variants. In cases where signs and symptoms are present, genital warts and an abnormal Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear) are the most short-term complications. For women, long-term complications include vulvar and vaginal problems... middle of article ......ce/pages/laryngeal.aspxDreyzehner, JJ (nd). Tennessee Emerging Infections Program. Retrieved from http://health.state.tn.us/ceds/EIP/Huh, WK (January 1, 2013). HPV vaccination in women treated for CIN2/3: everything remains a question of prevention. Gynecologic Oncology, 130, 2, 255-6. Cagney, H. (January 1, 2013). GAVI will fund HPV vaccines in low-income countries. The Lancet Oncology, 14, 3.)Maurer, F. and Smith, C. (2013). Nursing practice in community/public health. (5 ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders. Human papillomavirus (HPV) and genital warts. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/genitalwarts/Pages/default.aspxHuman papillomavirus (HPV) infection. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/hpv.htm Heymann, D. (2008). Manual for combating communicable diseases. (19 ed.). Baltimore, MD: American Public Health Association.