{"id":30496,"date":"2016-12-27T08:00:41","date_gmt":"2016-12-27T08:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitetest19.striveenterprisetest.com\/2016\/12\/27\/children-plantar-warts\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T14:59:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T14:59:03","slug":"children-plantar-warts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitetest19.striveenterprisetest.com\/2016\/12\/27\/children-plantar-warts","title":{"rendered":"Children and Plantar Warts"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Children and Plantar Warts<\/h2>\n

Plantar warts (simply: warts on the feet) are a very common issue for people of all ages.\u00a0 It\u2019s estimated that 7-10% of the US population has some type of wart infection.\u00a0 It\u2019s especially prevalent in children, with approximately 10-20% of children in the US affected.\u00a0 These are most common from the ages of 12-16 and girls are affected more frequently than boys.<\/p>\n

Although these skin lesions are typically harmless, they can cause pain and discomfort as well as being unsightly.\u00a0 They\u2019re also highly contagious and can easily be spread to others through both direct and indirect contact.\u00a0 This means that warts can be spread either by coming in contact with someone’s wart with your bare skin or by having bare skin contact with an object recently touched by someone else’s wart (ie: shower floor, socks, towels, etc.).<\/p>\n

Diagnosis is usually done by physical examination.\u00a0 This typically involves trimming of the wart to remove any hard outer callus and looking for the telltale signs of wart infection.\u00a0 These symptoms can be subtle, and proper diagnosis should always be done by a qualified specialist.<\/p>\n

Here are some common causes and risk factors for plantar warts in children:<\/p>\n

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  1. Direct Contact<\/strong>: The HPV virus that causes the warts is contagious and spreads through direct contact with an infected person or surface. Children can contract the virus by walking barefoot in damp, warm environments like public swimming pools, locker rooms, or communal showers.<\/li>\n
  2. Weakened Immune System<\/strong>: Children that have weaker immune systems typically take immuno suppressive medications, and that is why are more likely to develop warts.<\/li>\n
  3. Cuts or Abrasions<\/strong>: The infection often enter the skin through tiny cuts, scrapes, or abrasions on the feet. Children who have minor foot injuries or whose skin is compromised in some way may be at higher risk.<\/li>\n
  4. Walking Barefoot<\/strong>: Children who frequently walk barefoot in areas where the virus is present are more likely to come into contact with the HPV strain responsible.<\/li>\n
  5. Personal Hygiene<\/strong>: Lack of proper foot hygiene, such as not washing feet regularly, can contribute to the spread of the virus.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It’s essential for parents and caregivers to educate children about the importance of foot hygiene, avoiding walking barefoot in public areas, and wearing flip-flops or other protective footwear in communal spaces to reduce the risk of contracting warts.<\/p>\n

    Treating Plantar Warts<\/h2>\n

    Once the diagnosis of\u00a0 has been made, treatment can be started.\u00a0 Success rates for wart treatments in the adult population are often very low with cure rates for an initial treatment ranging from 5-10%.\u00a0 Subsequent treatments are typically needed.\u00a0 Success rates for initial treatments for children are much better, typically in the 50-60% success range.\u00a0 Various treatment options exist including over the counter topicals, laser therapies<\/a>, surgical excision, as well as more aggressive topical therapies that are applied under a doctor’s supervision.\u00a0 The best treatment option can vary from person to person depending on age, severity, and\u00a0location on the foot.<\/p>\n

    Regardless of which treatment is used, prevention of spread is always very important to avoid re-infection and to avoid passing it along to someone else.\u00a0 My recommendations to prevent spreading warts include:<\/p>\n