WARTS, PLANTAR |
|
|
DESCRIPTIONPlantar warts appear on the soles of the feet. The skin of the plantar surface (bottom) of the foot is involved.
Appropriate health care includes:
Self-care after diagnosis.
Physician's monitoring of general condition and medications. Your doctor will probably treat your child by paring away the overlying calloused skin and applying chemical cauterants, such as trichloracetic acid, 20% salicylic acid, or 20% formalin.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
A pinhead-sized bump that grows to 2mm or 3mm. Accidental scraping off the top reveals small black dots, pinpoint bleeding, and an underlying translucent core.
Pain when your child walks. The wart compresses underlying tender tissue.
CAUSES
Infection with the human papilloma virus, which passes from person to person by direct contact. The virus invades your child's skin, making infected cells reproduce faster than normal cells.
RISK FACTORS
Unknown.
PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS OR RECURRENCEInstructions for your child:
Don't touch warts on other people.
Don't wear another person's shoes.
Wear footwear in public locker rooms or showers.
BASIC INFORMATION
MEDICAL TESTS
Your own observation of symptoms.
Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONSNone expected.
PROBABLE OUTCOME
Usually curable in 6 to 10 weeks with treatment, but some cases are resistant to treatment. Recurrence is common.
TREATMENT
HOME CAREInsert pads or cushions in your child's shoes to make walking more comfortable.
MEDICATION
For minor discomfort, use non-prescription drugs such as acetaminophen.
Your doctor may prescribe a chemically treated plaster to apply to your child's foot. Follow instructions carefully.
See Medications section for information regarding medicines your doctor may prescribe.
ACTIVITY
No restrictions. Because walking aggravates the wart, your child should find the most comfortable way to walk without putting weight on the wart, such as walking on the heels.
DIET & FLUIDS
No special diet.
OK TO GO TO SCHOOL?Yes.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF
Your child has a plantar wart.
The treated area becomes infected, with redness, heat, increased pain, and tenderness.
‡
|
|
|
|
Dserun mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum and sunt in culpa qui officias deserunt mollit. Excepteur plus sint occaecat the best cupidatat nonr proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. September 24, 2004
