Small rough growths that are caused by the infection of keratinocytes with HPV. They can appear anywhere but most commonly seen on the hands and feet
A verruca is a wart of the sole of the foot
Causes/Factors
- Age - most common during school years and reaching a peak in adolescence and early adulthood. Very unusual in infants and very young children
- Contact with infected surfaces - eg swimming pools.
Signs
- Firm raised with rough surface that resembles a cauliflower
- Often have a central dark dot - thrombosed capillaries and may be painful
- Mosaic warts occur when palmar or plantar warts coalesce into larger plaques
Diagnostic Tests
- Diagnosed from appearance
Management
- Salicylic acid
- Cryotherapy (not recommended for younger children)
Usually managed in primary care. Refer if:
- An uncertain diagnosis
- A facial wart
- Multiple recalcitrant wars and compromised immunity
- Extensive warts
- Persistent warts that are unresponsive to treatment
Other pieces of info
- May clear spontaneously at any time. Resolution more rapid in children
- Benign warts in immunocompetent people almost never undergo malignant change