Warts are non-cancerous skin growths that develop on different parts of the body and come in various forms.
Warts, benign proliferative skin lesions that are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV).
Warts vary in shape, size, appearance, and location on the body.
Caused by viruses.
Warts are contagious and very common.
Most common among children and teenagers.
Up,to 33% of children and teenagers have warts.
Affects only about 3 to 5% of adults.
Most warts go away on their own within a few weeks or months.
Most warts are asymptomtomatic.
Some may cause itching, tightness, a feeling of pressure and painful, particularly those on the soles of the feet.
Some warts have coloration caused by clotted blood that has leaked from capillaries.
Caused by infection with human papillomavirus types 1, 2, 4, 29 and often noted to be present in areas of trauma.
Can transform into squamous cell carcinoma under the right conditions such as exposure to ionizing radiation or an immunocompromised patient.
Treated by topical agents such as squaric acid biathlete, topical salicyclic acid, laser, cryotherapy and surgery.
HPV Types 2 and 4 commonly cause warts on fingers and type 1 causes plantar warts.
Non-oncogenic HPV types six and 11 cause approximately 340,000 cases of genital warts in the United States each year (Hoy T et al).
HPV types 6 at 11 cause greater than 90% of genital warts.
Approximately 250,000 cases of genital warts occur each year in the US among sexually active males.
When HPV infections do not clear in men they most commonly manifest as genital warts.
Genital warts are benign and typically asymptomatic but may be associated with pain, itching and bleeding.
Warts are cosmetically disfiguring and cause patients to be distressed.
Warts can enlarge and spread to other locations.
Genital warts are highly infectious and up to 64% of sexual partners will develop warts as well.
Sexual partners become infected before lesions appear.
Plantar warts (verrucae plantaris), occur on the soles of the feet and appear as thick calluses.
Other types of warts include genital warts, flat warts, mosaic warts, and periungual warts.
Common treatment options include salicylic acid and cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen.