RESUMEN
ABSTRACT Objective: To know the vulnerabilities experienced by adolescents and young adults infected by the Human Papillomavirus attended at a reference center in Feira de Santana - Bahia. Method: Qualitative study, carried out with a semi-structured interview with 20 adolescents and young adults, from November 2020 to February 2021. For data analysis, the Content Analysis proposed by Bardin and the software Iramuteq were used. Results: The discovery of the infection highlights the misunderstanding about illness, fear, despair and guilt, individual and collective dimensions that point to little knowledge about the Human Papillomavirus. Final considerations: It is necessary to implement public policies to minimize risks, through knowledge and confrontation of sexually transmitted infections, as well as health promotion strategies and shared decisions for the process of behavior change in adolescents and young adults.
RESUMEN Objetivo: Conocer las vulnerabilidades vividas por adolescentes y adultos jóvenes infectados por el Virus del Papiloma Humano atendidos en un centro de referencia en Feira de Santana - Bahia. Método: Estudio cualitativo, realizado con entrevista semiestructurada a 20 adolescentes y adultos jóvenes, de noviembre de 2020 a febrero de 2021. Para el análisis de datos se utilizó el Análisis de Contenido propuesto por Bardin y el software Iramuteq. Resultados: El descubrimiento de la infección destaca la incomprensión sobre la enfermedad, el miedo, la desesperación y la culpa, dimensiones individuales y colectivas que apuntan al bajo conocimiento sobre el Virus del Papiloma Humano. Consideraciones finales: Es necesario implementar políticas públicas para la minimización de riesgos, a través del conocimiento y enfrentamiento de las infecciones de transmisión sexual, así como estrategias de promoción de la salud y decisiones compartidas para el proceso de cambio de comportamiento en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes.
RESUMO Objetivo: Conhecer as vulnerabilidades vivenciadas por adolescentes e adultas jovens infectadas pelo Papilomavírus Humano atendidas em um centro de referência em Feira de Santana - Bahia. Método: Estudo qualitativo, realizado entrevista semiestruturada com 20 adolescentes e adultas jovens, no período de novembro de 2020 a fevereiro de 2021. Para análise dos dados, utilizaram-se a Análise de Conteúdo proposta por Bardin e o software Iramuteq. Resultados: A descoberta da infecção realça a incompreensão sobre o adoecimento, o medo, o desespero e a culpa, dimensões individuais e coletivas que apontam para o baixo conhecimento sobre o Papilomavírus Humano. Considerações finais: Faz-se necessário a implementação de políticas públicas para minimizar os riscos, pelo conhecimento e enfrentamento às infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, bem como estratégias de promoção da saúde e decisões compartilhadas para o processo de mudança de comportamento em adolescentes e adultas jovens.
RESUMEN
ABSTRACT Introduction: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is sexually transmitted and causes persistent infection. This virus induces activation of the immune system and production of inflammatory cytokines. This study aimed to assess the cytokine profile and cytopathological findings in the cervicovaginal fluid of asymptomatic HTLV-1-infected women. Methods: HTLV-1-infected and uninfected women were selected at the Centro de Atendimento ao Portador de HTLV in Salvador-Brazil. None of the included HTLV-1-infected women reported any HTLV-1-associated diseases. All volunteers underwent gynecological examination to collect cervicovaginal fluid. Cytokine quantification was performed using the Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) Human Th1/Th2/Th17 kit. Light microscopy was used to evaluate cervicovaginal cytopathology. In addition, proviral load in cervicovaginal fluid and peripheral blood was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: 112 women (63 HTLV-1-infected and 49 uninfected) were evaluated. No differences were found with respect to cytopathological cervicovaginal findings between the groups. IL-2, TNF, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17 levels were significantly higher in cervicovaginal fluid of the HTLV-1-infected women than in uninfected women (p < 0.05). Conversely, IFN-γ was found to be lower in the HTLV-1-infected women (p < 0.001) compared to uninfected individuals. Cervicovaginal proviral load was detectable in 53% of the HTLV-1-infected women and was found to be consistently lower than the proviral load in peripheral blood. Conclusions: HTLV-1 infection induces immune activation in cervicovaginal environment, characterized by elevated concentrations of Th1, Th2, and IL17 in the cervicovaginal fluid.