Study Finds Most Newborns Clear HPV Infections Within Six Months

A recent Canadian study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases reveals that nearly all newborns infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) during birth naturally eliminate the virus within the first six months of life. Led by epidemiologist Helen Trottier from the Centre de recherche Azrieli at CHU Sainte-Justine and University of Montreal, the research analyzed data from the HERITAGE cohort, which included 422 pregnant women with HPV. Monitoring of 275 infants over two to five years showed that the majority of babies cleared the virus in less than four months, with all having eliminated HPV by the age of two. Only two cases involved persistent infections, and some children acquired new HPV genotypes during the follow-up period, likely through postnatal transmission from caregivers or others involved in their care. The findings suggest that initial HPV infection in infants rarely persists and does not generally cause long-term health issues. Experts consider this very encouraging news, reassuring expectant mothers that the risk of transmission and severe infection is very low. Nonetheless, vaccination remains crucial as it is highly effective in preventing HPV-related cancers and complications in adults. The study emphasizes the importance of vaccination in reducing HPV-related health risks, even though the risk of infants developing persistent infections from mother to child is minimal.