A common, contagious, harmless growth that occurs on the skin or mucous membranes. Only the topmost layer of skin is affected. An overgrowth of cells in this layer causes a visible lump to develop. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus, of which at least 30 different types are known. These cause different types of warts at various sites, such as on the hands or genitals.
Flat warts are flesh-coloured, sometimes itchy lumps with flat tops that occur mainly on the wrists, backs of hands, and face. About 50 per cent of warts disappear in 6–12 months without treatment. However, genital warts should be treated promptly. Common, flat, and plantar warts can sometimes be destroyed using a wart-removing liquid or special plaster. Several treatments may be necessary, and sometimes the wart returns. Warts are commonly treated by cryosurgery.
wart, plantar A hard, horny, and roughsurfaced area on the sole of the foot caused by a virus called a papillomavirus. Plantar warts, also known as verrucas, may occur singly or in clusters. The wart is flattened and forced into the skin and may cause discomfort or pain when walking. Infection is usually acquired from contaminated floors in swimming pools and communal showers.
Many plantar warts disappear without treatment, but some persist for years or recur. They can be removed by cryosurgery or by applying plasters or gel containing salicylic acid.
A circumscribed cutaneous excrescence
n. a benign growth on the skin caused by infection with *human papillomavirus (a few of the many serotypes are *oncogenic). Common warts are firm horny papules, 1–10 mm in diameter, found mainly on the hands. Most will clear spontaneously within two years. Plantar warts (or verrucae) occur on the soles and are often tender. Plane warts are flat and skin-coloured – and therefore difficult to see; they are usually found on the face and may be present in very large numbers. Anogenital warts are frequently associated with other genital infections (see condyloma). Treatment of warts is with OTC (over-the-counter) remedies, such as lactic and salicylic acids; *cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen is also effective. Curettage and cautery is very occasionally used, as well as immunotherapy with diphencyclopropenone.
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
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