The treatment for Heck's disease, which is an HPV infection in the mouth, is done when the lesions, similar to warts that develop inside the mouth, cause a lot of discomfort or cause aesthetic changes on the face, for example.
Thus, when recommended by the dermatologist, the treatment of Heck's disease can be done with:
- Minor surgery: it is done under local anesthesia in the dermatologist's office and consists of removing the lesions with a scalpel; Cryotherapy: consists of applying cold to the lesions to destroy tissue and accelerate healing; Diathermy: it is a technique that uses a small device that applies electromagnetic waves over the lesions, increasing circulation and accelerating tissue regeneration; Application of 5% Imiquimod: it is an ointment used to treat HPV warts that must be applied twice a week for up to 14 weeks. It is a less used technique, because it presents less results.
In cases where Heck's disease does not cause any change in the patient's day-to-day, it is generally not necessary to undergo treatment, as the lesions are benign and tend to disappear after a few months or years, not to appear again.
Symptoms of Heck's disease
The main symptom of Heck's disease, which can also be known as focal epithelial hyperplasia, is the appearance of plaques or small balls inside the mouth that are similar to warts and that have a color similar to the inside of the mouth or slightly whitish.
Although they do not cause pain, lesions that appear in the mouth can become a nuisance, especially when chewing or speaking, and it is often frequent to bite the lesions, which can cause some pain and bleeding.
Diagnosis of Heck's disease
The diagnosis of Heck's disease is usually made by a dermatologist through observation of the lesions and biopsy examination, to identify, in the laboratory, the presence of HPV virus types 13 or 32 in the lesion cells.
Thus, whenever changes in the mouth appear, it is advisable to go to the dentist to assess whether the problem can be treated in the office or whether it is necessary to consult a dermatologist to make the diagnosis and start the appropriate treatment.
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