The 19-year-old said she met the man while working at a bar. A month after the kiss, tiny red and white bumps appeared around her mouth, accompanied by difficulty speaking, eating, and bad breath. Initially, Ha thought she had a canker sore or dry lips due to dehydration, so she ate more fruit, drank more water, gargled with salt water, and brushed her teeth three times a day. However, the symptoms worsened.

When the warts in her mouth began to ooze and cause pain, and her breath worsened, Ha sought help from a community health worker in Ho Chi Minh City and was tested for genital warts. Upon receiving a positive result, she was shocked, having never thought she could contract the disease through kissing without sexual intercourse. She feared being ostracized and her parents finding out.

Because the disease had progressed to a severe stage, with warts growing inside her mouth, Ha had to undergo surgical removal and high-dose antibiotics to control the virus. The doctor also advised her to abstain from sexual activity and avoid kissing others to prevent transmission. She was also told to adhere to the treatment plan to avoid recurrence and scarring.

HPV can be transmitted through kissing. Photo: Vecteezy

HPV can be transmitted through kissing. Photo: Vecteezy

Van Khuong, 25, also contracted genital warts on his tongue after kissing someone while intoxicated at a bar with friends. Three weeks later, he experienced bleeding while eating, and the warts on his tongue became prominent and bled when he ate. He also had bad breath. In addition to treatment with wart removal and high-dose antibiotics at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Khuong was advised to abstain from sexual activity, maintain a healthy diet, practice good oral hygiene, and get vaccinated to prevent recurrence.

Genital warts, caused primarily by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11, are sexually transmitted. The disease is mainly spread through sexual intercourse and skin-to-skin contact. Sharing personal items with an infected person is a less common mode of transmission.

Doctor Huynh Tran An Khuong, Medical Manager of VNVC Vaccination System, said that in addition to the genital and anal areas, warts can also appear on the lips, mouth, tongue, oral mucosa, throat, larynx, and eyelids. Oral genital warts can be caused by oral sex or deep kissing.

Men receiving the HPV vaccine at VNVC Vaccination System. Photo: Moc Mien

Men receiving the HPV vaccine at VNVC Vaccination System. Photo: Moc Mien

Oral genital warts can cause symptoms such as a sore throat, difficulty eating and speaking, or no noticeable symptoms at all. This often leads to misdiagnosis as a sore throat, cold, or mouth ulcer, resulting in late detection, severe conditions, difficult treatment, frequent recurrence, and an increased risk of complications. Recurring cases can increase the risk of throat, mouth, and tongue cancer.

There is no specific cure for genital warts. Doctor Khuong recommends a healthy lifestyle, monogamous relationships, a nutritious diet, and regular exercise to strengthen the immune system and improve overall health to avoid contracting the disease. If infected, seek early treatment at reputable facilities, avoid apprehension, and refrain from relying on anecdotal remedies that can worsen the condition.

Genital warts can be prevented with two types of HPV vaccines. Gardasil protects against 4 HPV types (6, 11, 16, and 18) and is recommended for girls and women aged 9-26. Gardasil 9 protects against 9 types (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58) and is recommended for both males and females aged 9-45, with an efficacy of over 90%. Children aged 9 to under 15 only need two doses, 6 months apart, while those 15 and older need three doses.

Tuan An

*Names have been changed.