HPV DETECTION IN CHILDREN PRIOR TO SEXUAL DEBUT

Knowledge of the epidemiology of infection with human papillomavirus ( HPV) in childhood is important, since HPV infection early in life coul d represent a risk factor for later development of anogenital cancer. A random sample of Danish children aged 0 to 17 years was tested for t he presence of HPV in the anal region and the oral cavity by the polym erase chain reaction using a consensus HPV L1 primer, Only 4 of 249 an al beta-globin-positive samples and one of 392 oval beta-globin-positi ve samples were HPV-positive, All HPV-positive samples were of unknown types, We conclude that the prevalence of anogenital HPV infection in childhood is very low indeed and that the oral cavity does not seem t o act as a reservoir for HPV infection in childhood, This indicates th at anogenital types of HPV are not transmitted to any measureable degr ee by non-sexual routes and further supports the notion that HPV infec tion takes place mainly later in life. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.