The bump-shaped structures that occur on the skin due to human papilloma virus (HPV) are called warts. As a result of research on mummies, it shows that the formation of warts in humans can go back thousands of years.
What is a wart?
Warts are benign (benign) formations that occur on mucosal tissues or on the skin. However, care should be taken because some warts may experience a transformation called “malignant (malignant) transformation”.
Why Does Wart Come Out?
HPV is the virus that causes warts and there are more than 100 warts. There are many subtypes. Although some of these subtypes are associated with the development of warts only in certain parts of the body, it should be noted that since warts can be transmitted by skin contact, they can be in any part of the body, as in various cases such as facial warts and oral warts.
Human papilloma virus; It can cause many different types of warts called genital, flat and palmoplantar. There is a connection between some subtypes of the HPV virus and the type of wart they cause:
The common wart types are most commonly caused by Type 2 and Type 4 HPV viruses. Type 3 and Type 10 HPV viruses are most frequently involved in the development of flat warts.
Deep palmoplantar (hand-foot) warts are most commonly caused by type1 HPV virus. Type 2 and Type 3 HPV viruses may also play a role in the development of palmoplantar warts.
What are the Characteristics of Wart Types?
Warts can be classified by considering the differences in their structures and the regions where they occur:
- Common Warts (Verruca Vulgaris): These warts, which usually occur on the fingers, have a hard and rough surface. These warts may appear to be more grayish in color than the skin around them. The main mode of transmission of these warts is through skin contact. After exposure to the virus, the development time of warts on this type of finger can vary between 2 and 6 months. This type of wart, which is small and difficult to notice at first glance The surface of the lair may be flat, as if it had been scraped. The color of flat warts can be pink, brown or close to yellow.
- Plantar Warts (Watts on the Foot): Plantar warts refer to the development of warts on the soles of the feet. Unlike other warts, plantar warts tend to grow inwards rather than outwards from the skin surface. It can manifest itself as a hole on the sole of the foot with hardened skin around it. Warts on the soles of the feet can be quite painful. For this reason, it should be kept in mind that plantar type warts may present themselves with complaints of discomfort during walking. Plantar warts can be transmitted by direct contact. The deterioration of the skin integrity in the contact area during transmission is among the factors that facilitate the transmission of the virus. A yellowish color and crust formation are remarkable in the outer appearance of the wart.
- Genital Warts: Genital warts are one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Care should be taken as this type of warts may result in the formation of cancer in reproductive organs such as the vulva and cervix (neck of the uterus) in women where they develop. Genital warts may not always be visually detectable. This is because these warts are small in size and have a similar color to the skin. Genital warts may appear as warts on the penis, warts on the scrotum, groin, thighs, or anal area in men. The periphery of the vagina and anal region and the cervix are among the areas where genital warts are detected in women. Although they may not be visible, symptoms such as vaginal discharge, itching, bleeding and burning may occur in people who develop genital warts. The spread or growth of warts is a painful and uncomfortable condition.
How is Wart Diagnosis?
Most warts may not have any symptoms. . Complaints about warts are generally caused by cosmetic reasons. Warts, which may vary in size from 1 millimeter to several centimeters, develop on the sole of the foot (plantar). Care should be taken as it can be confused with callus tissue in axes.
Physical examination forms the basis of the diagnostic approach of the wart. Apart from the examination, the presence of structural parts or hereditary material of the virus that causes warts can be examined by immunohistochemical methods. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) helps to reveal the presence of the virus by replicating the DNA of the virus that causes the wart. , How is the treatment?
It has been determined that some of the human papilloma virus subtypes are associated with the development of cancer. Types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31 and 35 HPV virus can turn into a malignant character in genital warts, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
Following the diagnosis of warts, the patient's preferences and accompanying complaints Treatment planning is started by taking into account issues such as cost or cost. Despite the use of various wart drugs, it should be noted that some warts may recur after treatment.
About 2 out of 3 warts tend to regress and heal spontaneously within a period of 2 years. For this reason, physicians may decide to observe the course of the wart without intervention instead of treatment applications for some warts. Risky changes such as growth or spread may occur in warts, which are only decided to be observed. The drugs prescribed for the treatment of warts are usually those used topically (wart cream on the skin). The first treatment option for common warts is drugs with salicylic acid content. With the use of salicylic acid, it has been determined that more than 50% of warts of this type are healed. Retinoic acid and its derivatives or some chemotherapy agents applied on the skin are also among the drugs that can be applied by the physician in the treatment of warts when deemed necessary. With this process, that area of the skin loses its vitality and thus It will be easier to remove the province from that region. Physicians can also use liquid nitrogen in the treatment of warts with its freezing effect.
The course of infectious diseases may differ from person to person. The main reason for this difference is that each person's immune system responds differently to harmful factors such as viruses, bacteria or fungi that have the potential to cause disease. Scratches or cuts that may cause deterioration of the skin integrity in the contact area at the time of encounter may facilitate the transmission of the HPV virus.
Some HPV types that progress with the development of warts in the genital area tend to be transmitted only through sexual contact. It is possible to be protected from some types of HPV virus transmitted in this way by vaccination. There are some practices that can be applied to prevent the transmission of HPV virus from person to person or to other parts of the body in a person:
- To give importance to hand hygiene,
- After injury Cleaning that area well and getting rid of germs,
- Not coming into contact with other people's warts,
- Not scratching the formed wart and keeping it dry,
- Warts on warts on shaving areas avoiding its surroundings.
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