Anogenital warts Health Dictionary

Also called Condylomata acuminata. A sexually transmitted viral infection, caused by human papillomavirus. See VENEREAL WARTS... anal warts

Caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) and also known as condylomata acuminata, anal warts, and genital warts. It is nearly always transmitted from person to person by sexual contact, can increase the risk for women of cervical cancer, and occurs in near epidemic proportions in sexually active teenage women.... venereal warts

Warts (verrucae) are small, solid outgrowths from the SKIN arising from the epidermis and caused by various subtypes of ‘human papilloma virus’. The causal viruses are ubiquitous and most people probably harbour them. Whether or not warts develop depends upon age, previous infection and natural resistance.

Common warts (verruca vulgaris) are seen mainly in children and young adults on the backs of the ?ngers and hands, and less often on the knees, face or scalp. They may be single or numerous and range from 1 mm to 10 mm or more in size. Untreated, they often resolve spontaneously after weeks or months. They may be occupationally contracted by butchers and meat-handlers.

Plane warts (verruca plana) are small, ?at-topped, yellowish papules seen mainly on the backs of the hands, wrists and face in young people. They may persist for years.

Digitate warts (verruca digitata) are ?nger- or thread-like warts up to 5 mm in length with a dark rough tip. They tend to grow on the eyelids or neck.

Plantar warts (verruca plantaris) occur on the soles of the feet, most commonly in older children, adolescents and young adults. Spread by walking barefoot in swimming pools, changing rooms, etc., these warts may appear as minor epidemics in institutions, such as schools. They are ?attened, yellow-white discrete lesions in the sole or heel, tender when squeezed. Multiple black points in the wart are thrombosed capillaries. Occasionally, aggregates of plantar warts form a mosaic-like plaque, especially in chronically warm, moist feet.

Genital warts are sexually transmitted. In the male they occur on the shaft of the PENIS and on the PREPUCE or around the anus. In women they occur around the entrance to the VAGINA and LABIA minora. Genital warts vary from 1–2 mm pink papules to ?orid, cauli?ower-like masses. Pregnancy facilitates their development.

Mucosal warts may develop on the mucous membranes of the mouth.

Laryngeal warts may be found in children whose mothers had genital warts (see above) at the time of delivery. Some subtypes of genital wart can infect the uterine cervix (see UTERUS), causing changes which may lead eventually to cancer.

Treatment CRYOTHERAPY – freezing with liquid nitrogen – is the principal weapon against all types of warts, but curettage (scraping out the wart with a CURETTE) and cauterisation (see ELECTROCAUTERY) or LASER therapy may be required for resistant warts. Genital warts may respond to local application of PODOPHYLLIN preparations. Sexual partners should be examined and treated if necessary. Finally, treatment of warts should not be more onerous or painful than the disease itself, since spontaneous resolution is so common.... warts

See warts, genital.... genital warts

See warts, genital.... penile warts

Fleshy, painless, usually soft lumps that grow in and around the entrance of the vagina, around the anus, and on the penis. Genital warts are transmitted by sexual contact and are caused by a papillomavirus. There may be an interval of from a few weeks up to 18 months between time of infection and the appearance of the warts.

Genital warts have been linked with the development of cervical cancer (see cervix, cancer of).

They may be removed by cryosurgery or by the application of the drug podophyllin, but there is a tendency for them to recur.... warts, genital