Tag: Human Papaloma Virus

Types of Warts

Warts are benign tumors of the skin, caused by viruses in the human papaloma virus family. They may take weeks or months to grow before they can become visible, and are contagious. In many cases, warts can be treated through home remedies and over the counter medications. However, in some cases warts must be treated by a professional.

There are four main types of warts: common warts, flat warts (also known as juvenile warts), plantar warts (warts on the feet), and genital warts. The first three types of warts are treated similarly. Genital warts typically require professional medical treatment, and can cause serious health problems if not treated quickly.

Most types of warts are not typically threatening to the overall health of the patient. When warts are bothersome or embarrassing they can be treated at home through over the counter medications. However, recurrences may happen later. If the warts continue to be bothersome, professional medical treatments may be sought.

Common Warts

Common warts appear as thickened bumps, sometimes called papules. They can appear somewhat like a mole, but are rougher on the surface. Small black dots also may appear due to clotted blood vessels.

Common warts often appear on the hands, knees, and elbows. Like all warts they are contagious, and can be spread to others with low immunity to the human papaloma virus family. Warts can also be spread to other areas of the body through touching or shaving.

Flat Warts (Juvenile Warts)

Flat warts are similar to common warts in that they appear on the hands, knees, arms, and face. They are also contagious, and can be spread to other areas of the body or other people. Flat warts are also called juvenile warts because they are most commonly found in children and young adults.

Flat warts appear as small bumps, about the size of a pin head, with a smooth flat top. They can be the color of the skin or may appear yellow or brown. They are not very large, but can form in clusters of as many as one hundred warts in one small area of the body.

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts occur on the bottoms of the feet. They are especially common in people with diabetes. Plantar warts can be very painful if left untreated, especially if they appear in a weight bearing area of the foot.

Plantar warts can sometimes be mistaken as corns or rough spots on the feet. They are typically rough and spongy in texture. Plantar warts are usually yellow, gray, or brown, causing the confusion with corns or other rough spots on the feet.

Genital Warts

Genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted disease. They appear as the color of the skin in most cases. They can be found anywhere in the genital area. In women they can actually spread to the walls of the vagina and the cervix itself.

Unlike other types of warts, genital warts can cause serious health conditions if left untreated. Treatment for genital warts must come from a professional. This type of warts cannot be treated at home.

The human papaloma virus has been found to actually cause cancer of the cervix. This is due to the rapid cell growth induced by the virus. There are over sixty strands of the virus, but only about four of them have been found to cause cervical cancer. However, the threat is very real, and should be addressed with professional medical attention as soon as they are noticed.

How to Deal with Juvenile Warts

Juvenile warts require more than the simple treatment that is required for warts on adults. Children can, unfortunately, be cruel. They also find it hard to leave warts alone. Therefore, additional remedies may be required to deal with juvenile warts.

Juvenile warts are actually flat warts. They are often called juvenile warts because they occur most often on children and young adults. These warts may appear white, brown, or yellow. They can be itchy or sting slightly if touched often. They are called flat warts because they have a flat top.

Juvenile warts are caused by the human papaloma virus. There are actually sixty strains of the virus, and it is contagious. Many children will experience juvenile warts because their immune systems are not strong enough to fight these viruses. However, some children may go their entire lives without having a single wart.

Because juvenile warts are contagious there are steps that must be taken to protect the child as well as other children. The warts may spread to other parts of the body if touched frequently. Since juvenile warts are often seen on the face or hands, it is easy to spread them to other areas of the body, or to other children.

To protect the child and other children, the warts should be covered. Covering with a band aid is not recommended, however. Warts thrive in warm, damp places on the body. A cluster of warts may occur if the original wart is covered with a band aid, which will insulate the wart and cause the virus to spread within that area.

There are many over the counter medicated treatments available for juvenile warts. These treatments involve a small, round, band aid like covering. The pad of the covering contains medication with acids that eat at the wart and cause it to disappear faster. The covering also helps the child to leave it alone, and prevents other children from touching the wart.

Juvenile warts cause more than physical discomfort. When juvenile warts are present, children often feel ugly, and their self worth drops considerably. Other children may compound these feelings with teasing and harmful remarks and pranks.

Covering the wart can help prevent some of these feelings and events. However, it is important to let the child with juvenile warts know that they are not less than they were simply because they have juvenile warts. Helping the child understand where the warts come from and that they are easily treated can provide a lot of comfort for the child with juvenile warts.

To further the advocacy of these children, some type of education about juvenile warts should take place with all children. Many schools are beginning to require health classes for older students, where issues such as juvenile warts are discusses. This education will likely limit the number of children teased mercilessly on the playground for their wart problems.

Parents should also make siblings aware of the facts about juvenile warts. This will help cut down on teasing and self esteem issues within the home. It will also keep the other children from touching the warts and getting them themselves.