Warts and verrucas

Medical terms

Verruca vulgaris, viral wart, verruca acuminata, condyloma acuminatum

Common terms

Warts, verruca, veruca

Overview

Warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) of which there is several subtypes which affects humans.  Common in children of school age, warts can also affect otherwise healthy adults.  A wart has the ability to hide from an otherwise normal immune system.

Symptoms and signs

Warts can vary in shape and site affected and can include raised lesions with roughened surfaces, smooth flattened flesh-coloured lesions that occur in large numbers, thread or finger like lesions or lumps with black specks in the centre, and can occur on the face, neck, hands, wrists, knees, near the eyelids and lips, on pressure points on the sole of the feed, or on the genitals.

Treatment

Treatment can include the use of cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen) to precisely freeze the lesion, along with prescription topical medications.