What is a WART?
- Warts (verrucae) are skin growths that are caused by a virus known as the human papilloma virus (HPV).
- Warts can appear anywhere on the body but are most commonly found in the hands, knees, ankles and feet.
- Warts are most common among children and young adults, with a prevalence of 10% to 20% in this population.  Warts are not dangerous but can be bothersome.
- Genital warts are considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and must be treated by a physician.  These types of warts can become dangerous.
- Warts are NOT caused by contact with frogs or toads (this is a myth).

Causes of WARTS
- Warts are caused by an infection by one of the human papilloma viruses (HPV).
- Once an individual is infected, there is no way of preventing a wart from forming.
- Little is known about warts. Warts are contagious and can spread to other areas on the same person (by scratching, picking or shaving) and to other people.
- Warts have a high rate of recurrence and thus seem to come and go for little reason. Because of this, it is possible that warts are sensitive to slight changes in the immune system.
- Genital warts are easily transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person and require medical attention.

Symptoms and treatment of WARTS
- Warts appear as a hard skin growths that can be found anywhere on the body.
- Warts generally have no symptoms but may become painful in areas subject to trauma, such as the soles of the feet (plantar warts).
- Most warts resolve spontaneously without treatment.
- Treatments consist of destroying the wart and differ as to the type of wart and its location.
- Genital warts must be treated by a physician and prevention is only possible by avoiding direct contact with the virus, which is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact.

Types of treatment:
- Keratolytic topical preparations are applied daily over 6 to 12 weeks. Some keratolytics are commonly available without a prescription such as salicylic acid. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
- The most common office-based wart removal procedure is the process of freezing warts with liquid nitrogen (Cryotherapy).
- Other forms of wart removal by physicians include laser treatments, immunotherapy (injected intralesion) and Cantharidin treatments.

- When a solitary wart does not respond to treatment, a biopsy may need to be taken. Squamous cell carcinoma or even melanoma can appear very much like a wart.

More Monographs   •   Disclaimer   •   Pharmacist Jobs   •   Nursing Jobs   •   CE   •   R.Ph & RN Salary Data
This information is of a general nature and may not apply to your special circumstances. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician or an appropriate health care professional.  These monographs are counseling aids for healthcare professionals only and are not to be used as a reference to diagnose or treat medical conditions.          Copyright 2005 RXinsider LTD