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Common
warts are also known as warts or verrucas. They along
with genital warts are also caused by the human papilloma
virus (HPV); however they are caused by the strain 1,
2, 4 or 63, which are different to genital warts. so cannot
be treated in the same way. They appear on on the backs
of fingers, toes, and knees. Comon warts are considered
contagious and the margority of people develop a common
wart at some point in their life. Like with genital warts
symptoms may not become visible for several months after
infection.
1 in every 10 people in the US population are currently
infected and 4 in 5 people will have at least one wart
during their lifetime. The virus can survive many months
without a host, making it highly contagious. If left untreated
plantar warts can spread and develop into clusters called
mosaic warts.
Common
warts occur most often in children and young adults between
the ages of 11 and 16. Incidence is higher in people who
share bathing areas such as dormitories, students, gym
members etc. The human body builds it immunity with age,
so infection is less common among adults than children.
Types of warts;
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Common
warts are the familiar
type of dome-shaped warts on the backs of fingers,
toes, and knees. |
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Plantar
warts (Verrucas)
are found on the bottom
of the foot. |
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Flat
warts may appear on the
face, legs, and other parts of the body, often in
large numbers. |
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Periungual
warts are warts around
or under the nail. |
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Filiform
warts appear as a single
long stalk, often on the face. |
Sadly
there is no cure for HPV, and once you are infected you
will have it for the rest of your life. However your body
can ‘fight it off’ and the virus itself can
become dormant for decades and then reappear, but once
the warts have formed they don't typically regress and
require treatment. Although some genital warts can disappear
after 2-3 years. There is currently no vaccine for the
common wart types. However, treatments are sometimes effective
at addressing symptoms and causing remission (inactivity)
of the warts.
(See duct
tape warts and vinegar
warts.)
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