Warts are common, non-cancerous skin growths and are more common among children and adolescents than adults. They are caused by the human papillomavirus and are often spread by touching something someone else with a wart has touched. According to the University of Mary Washington, warts normally appear on the fingers, the bottoms of feet, knees and elbows, but they may appear anywhere on the body. Although warts don't have roots, they are difficult to destroy.
Plantar Warts
Found on the bottom of the foot, plantar warts can cause discomfort and pain when your child walks or runs. Plantar warts are hard growths that may be flat or bumpy and they are gray or brown in color with black pin points, which are clotted blood vessels. According to MayoClinic.com, plantar warts are persistent, and if left untreated, they may spread and grow into clusters called mosaic warts. In most cases, plantar warts don't need treatment, but if they are causing your child pain, your doctor may remove them by prescribing Imiquimod, a prescription cream that treats warts. Doctors also treat plantar warts with lasers or by surgically removing them from the foot.
Common Warts
Normally found on the fingers and the back of the hand, common warts can appear on the face, elbows and knees of your child. The common wart is raised, has a rough surface and is yellow-gray or brown in color. Sometimes common warts are painful for kids. Most common warts normally go away on their own, but if your child is embarrassed by his wart or if the wart is painful, there are treatments available that get rid of the wart. Doctors remove warts by using laser treatments or burning them off. There are over-the-counter remedies for removing warts; speak to your physician before using one of them on your child.
Flat Warts
Flat warts, sometimes known as plane warts or juvenile warts, are smooth, small in size. They are normally found on the face, but also grow on the hands, elbows and neck. The warts are yellow, light brown or pink in color and are approximately the size of a pin head. Flat warts often appear in clusters that may include up to 100 or more small warts. In most cases, flat warts eventually go away in a few months when the body's immune system fights back. If flat warts persist, seek medical treatment. Doctors may treat you child's flat warts with lasers or powerful chemicals like salicylic acid or glycolic that removes the top layer of the wart.
Filiform Warts
Fast-growing, long, narrow, flesh-colored warts that occur on the face, eyelids and neck of children are filiform warts. Although they are normally painless, filiform warts may become sore when they are located in areas where they are rubbed. Filiform warts often itch and bleed and they quickly spread to other areas of the body. Do not attempt to use over-the-counter wart treatments on filiform warts that appear the face or near eyes. Doctors remove filiform warts by using chemicals such as trichloroacetic acid or salicylic acid alone, or in combination with cryotherapy, the freezing of warts or laser light treatments.
References
- University of Mary Washington: Warts
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Health Information--Warts
- The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine: Warts
- "Paediatrics: A Clinical Guide for Nurse Practitioners; Katie Barnes; 2003
- "Common Skin Diseases in Children: Diagnosis and Management"; Dietrich Abeck, Walter Burgdorf, Hansjoerg Cremer; 2003
