Warts are usually acquired from person-to-person contact. The virus is not highly contagious but can cause an infection by entering through a small break in the skin. In the same way, warts can be spread to other places on the child's body. The virus is rarely transferred by touching an object used by an infected person, but it is still a good idea for siblings to refrain from sharing towels or socks.
Plantar warts are rough, thick, and callus like, and they often cause tenderness on the soles of the feet, usually on weight-bearing areas.
Plantar wart infection may be one of the following:
- Small – just one or a few painless lesions
- Moderate – multiple lesions
- Giant – the wart covers a large part of the sole
- Duct tape applied daily to the affected area seems to work for unknown reasons. The tape should be very sticky and kept on for a few days. Between changes of duct tape, the wart should be soaked in warm water, and any loose skin should be removed every few days with a mild abrasive, like a pumice stone or emery board. Some children may have a reaction to the adhesive on the tape.
- Over-the-counter wart removers have a high percentage of salicylic acid and work by dissolving away the layer of skin infected with the virus. This treatment needs to be used daily and can sometimes be irritating if it touches unaffected skin around the wart; 40% salicylic acid self-stick pads appear to be one of the most effective types. Cut out a pad that covers the wart and then apply duct tape over the pad to secure it. Keep on for 2–3 days. Remove the pad and tape and scrub away the top layer of dead skin, now white-colored, with an emery board or pumice stone. Reapply a new 40% salicylic acid pad and duct tape. Keep removing dead skin and reapplying every few days until the wart is gone. Many plantar warts will respond in 1–2 months.
- Over-the-counter freezing medications are available but have not been found to be very effective.
- Family members should avoid sharing personal items such as towels.
- Painful or bleeding warts
- Warts on the face or warts interfering with daily life that do not improve with self-care
- Diabetes – warts of the feet should be treated by a physician
- Destruction with freezing (cryosurgery), burning (electrocautery), or laser or cantharidin, podophyllin, tretinoin, or acid application
- Injection of chemotherapy drugs