Presence of human papillomavirus DNA in condylomata acuminata in children and adolescents.

The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA of types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 33 was determined by in situ hybridization on archival paraffin-embedded tissue sections in 21 condylomata acuminata observed in patients aged 20 or less. HPV DNA was detected in 17 of 21 cases: all of these contained HPV 6, five also contained HPV 11, and one also contained HPV 16 and 18. HPVs 31 and 33 were not observed. Among 21 cases, 4 cases were in children under 6 yrs one of whom had a history of sexual abuse. The hybridization data indicate that condylomata acuminata in young people are associated with the same HPV types found in anogenital lesions in adults.