Abstract(1)
Warts are benign lesions on your skin and inside your mouth caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Mode of transmission of warts within families is unknown. Viral warts are common skin conditions seen in both children and adults. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus which is responsible for plantar warts.
Key words:- common wart, flat wart, plantar wart, filiform wart, periungual wart, homeopathy approach, conventional medicine, prevention.
Introduction(2)
Warts are common dermatological disorders caused by an infection of the superficial skin with the human papilloma virus (HPV), that causes thickening of the top skin layer. There are more than 150 types of HPV viruses. Warts are usually harmless and painless, and many of these disappear on their own after months to years. In fact, two thirds of warts disappeared within 2 years of their appearance.Warts are transmitted into humans by person-to-person contact and rarely, by touching an object i.e. used by an infected person. Warts are less contagious.
Types of warts(3)
Each type of wart appears on a different part of the body and has a distinct appearance.
1. Common warts:- Common warts generally grow on fingers and toes, but can appear elsewhere. They have a rough & grainy appearance with a rounded top. Common warts are slightly gray than the surrounding skin.
2. Plantar warts :- Plantar warts grow on the soles of the feet as its name suggests. Unlike other warts, plantar warts grow into your skin, not out of it just because of the pressure from walking & standing.
3. Flat warts :- Flat warts usually grow on the face, thighs, or arms. They are small and not immediately noticeable. Flat warts have a flat top, as if they’ve been scrapped. The upside of these warts is that they’re smaller and smoother than other types.
4. Filiform warts :- Filiform warts grow around mouth or nose and sometimes on neck or under chin. These warts are small like a tiny flap or tag of skin. These warts usually don’t hurt.
5. Periungual warts :- Periungual warts grow under and around the toenails and fingernails. These can be painful and affect nail growth.
6. Genital warts:- Warts are usually transmitted through sexual contact.They are present on glans penis,corona,mucosal surface of prepuce and vulva and vagina in females.
7.Molluscum Contagiosum:- it’s an infection caused by a poxvirus.The results of infection skin raised,round,firm,painless bumps.It’s spread by close contact with other children who are infected.
Treatment of warts(4) :-
In the system of conventional medicines warts are treated as follow-
a. Cryotherapy :- These action over-the-counter treatments spray concentrated cold air (a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane) onto wart. This kills the skin and allows it to scrape away the surface of the wart. These treatments are a good choice to remove a wart quickly, but they aren’t strong enough to remove all warts.
b. Duct tape :- This is the successful method of treating warts with duct tape. In This process the wart is covered with a small piece of duct tape for several days for soaking the wart and then rubbing to remove dead skin. This approach can take several rounds to work.
c. Surgery :- Surgery is usually only considered if wart doesn’t respond to other methods of treatment. In this process the doctor cuts away wart with a surgical knife or burns it with electricity. Surgery may also cause scarring.
Prevention of warts(5) :- There are some ways to prevent warts-
i) Wash hands regularly
ii) Don’t pick at warts.
iii) Cover warts with a bandage.
iv) Keep hands and feet dry.
Homeopathic treatment(6)
Homeopathic medicines have good results when the remedy corresponds to the characteristics of the person as well as the shape and appearance of the wart. Warts cover sycotic miasm so antisycotic remedies are also effective in treating these. There are few remedies for warts are following :-
1. Antimonium crudum (Ant-c.)-The character of warts is thick, hard, honey colored that often appear in groups. A thickly coated white tongue also suggests the need for this remedy. People have an aversion to cold bathing.
2. Calcarea carbonica (Calc.)– Warts on face & hands with unhealthy skin suggest calc. carb. It is useful in persons who are fair, fatty & flabby with improper assimilation. It is indicated in children who are emaciated with a big head, open fontanelle and big belly.
3. Causticum (Caust.) –Warts are large, jagged and bleeding easily at the tips of fingers & noses. The warts also tend to be hard, inflamed and painful and look whitish-yellow. People who benefit from this remedy tend to fear that something awful will happen and feel intensely sympathetic for others.It suits preferably to dark complexioned and rigid fibred persons. It is indicated in those who are restless at night and faint like a sinking of strength.
4. Dulcamara (Dulc.)– The character of warts of dulcamara are large smooth and flat which are located on backs of hands and face i.e. soft brownish to black seborrheic. Dulcamara is indicated in people with rheumatic complaints that are worse in cold, damp weather or humidity.
5. Natrum muriaticum (Nat-m) – It is an important remedy for warts on the palms of the hand and soles of the feet. Indicated in those who are closed, reserved and sensitive. There is great aversion to bread in Nat. Mur. patients. It is a useful remedy for people who are taking excessive salt which causes profound nutritive changes.
6. Nitricum acidum (Nit-ac.) -This remedy is indicated in treating large, fissured or gold-yellow warts that itch and sting or bleed upon washing.. This remedy is also indicated for people who are anxious about health and worry about cancer. It is also useful for warts that have a horny wall surrounding a central depression or the more common plantar wart. There is marked tongue i.e. clean, red and wet with center furrow. Since it is from acid group medicine, all discharges are very offensive.
7. Thuja occidentalis (Thuj.) – This is the commonest remedy for various kinds of warts. If no other remedy is indicated, than Thuja has great results. Particularly indicated in warts epithelioma especially at ano-genital region. Indicated in those prone to numerous growths or tumors and who worry too much about what people think of them because it is a king of antisycotic remedies. Thuja patients have fixed ideas of a living animal in the abdomen.
8. Graphites(Graph.):- Warts that are periungual or corn like in appearance on palms or soles of the feet and have a yellowish tinge.Refrences:-
1. Vlahovic TC, Khan MT. The Human Papillomavirus and Its Role in Plantar Warts: A comprehensive review of diagnosis & management
2. Orth G, Jablonska S, Favre M, Croissant O, Jarzabek-Chorzelska M, Rzesa G. Characterization of two types of human papillomaviruses in lesions of epidermodysplasia verruciformis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.
3. American Academy of Dermatology: “Warts: Overview,” “Dermatologists share tips to treat common warts,” “Where warts come from.”
4. University Health Service, University of Southampton: “Curettage and shave excision of raised skin lesions.
5. Kwok CS, Gibbs S, Bennett C, Holland R, Abbott R. Topical treatments for cutaneous warts.
6. Boericke’s New Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica with Repertory.
Author:-
1.Dr Dharmendra Kumar Saini, Assistant Professor, Department of Practice of Medicine, University College of Homoeopathy, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
2.Dr Rajveer Singh Rathore, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery , University college of Homoeopathy, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
