|
Warts are caused by a virus that invades the uppermost layer of the skin. The risk of contagion from hand, foot and flat warts seems to be small so there should be no concern about carrying out everyday activities. Warts on children disappear without treatment over a period of several months to several years without any bad consequences. However, since warts can be spread to others, and to new locations on the child, treatment may be appropriate.
Several wart remedies are available over-the-counter. However, you might mistake a wart for another kind of skin growth, which may need medical attention. Do not use over-the-counter medications before talking to a dermatologist or your child’s doctor. Warts on the feet are usually very resistant to over-the-counter medications, and they will most likely need treatment by a physician.
Sometimes it seems new warts appear as quickly as old ones are treated. This usually happens because old warts have shed virus into the surrounding skin before they were treated. Thus, new "baby" warts are growing up around the original "mother" wart. The best way to minimize this problem is to treat new warts as soon as they develop.
For additional healthy kids tips, log onto baymed.org, scroll over "Health Checks & You" and join our "E-List." For more information about childhood diseases or development, contact Inez Balinska, MD or Darek Balinski, MD, McLaren Bay Region Pediatrics, Medical Mall, 1456 W. Center Road, Essexville. (989) 895-4840.
|
|