Pediatric warts: update on interventions

Cutis. 2019 Jan;103(1):26;27;28;29;30;E2;E3;E4.

Abstract

Warts are superficial viral infections of the skin that are extremely common in children. The infection usually lasts more than 1 year and can be moderately contagious in specific settings; for instance, warts are particularly common and spread more easily in the setting of atopic dermatitis, a chronic, itchy pediatric skin condition caused by barrier and immune defects. Therapies for pediatric warts are characterized according to 6 major categories: destructive; immune stimulating; immune modulating, including normalization of epithelial growth; vascular destructive; irritant; and nitric oxide releasing. The standard of care is the use of destructive therapies, with immune-stimulating and vascular destructive therapies reserved for more prolonged, extensive, or treatment-resistant infections. In this article, a successful paradigm for management of pediatric warts is provided, with enhanced outcomes based on further insight into the disease course and patient selection.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Humans
  • Papillomavirus Infections / therapy*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Warts / therapy*
  • Warts / virology