Warts

Is this your child's symptom?

• Small raised growths that have a rough surface
• Viral infection of the skin

Symptoms of Warts

• Raised, round, rough-surfaced growths on the skin
• Skin-colored or pink
• Most commonly occur on the hands, especially the fingers
• Not painful unless located on the sole of the foot (plantar wart). Also can be painful if on part of a finger used for writing.

Cause of Warts

• Warts are caused by several human papilloma viruses
• Different types of warts are caused by different papilloma viruses

Prevention of Spread to Others

• Avoid baths or hot tubs with other children. Reason: warts can spread in warm water.
• Also, avoid sharing washcloths or towels.
• Contact sports: warts can spread to other team members. Warts should be covered or treated.
• Time it takes to get warts after close contact: 3 months

When to Call for Warts

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Redness or red streak spreading from wart with fever
• Your child looks or acts very sick

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Redness or red streak spreading from wart without fever
• Boil suspected (painful, non-itchy, red lump)
• You think your child needs to be seen

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Wart on bottom of foot (plantar wart)
• Wart on face
• Wart on genitals or anus
• 4 or more warts
• Pus is draining from the wart. Apply antibiotic ointment 3 times per day until seen.
• On treatment more than 2 weeks and new warts appear
• On treatment more than 8 weeks and warts not gone
• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Common warts - 3 or less

Care Advice for Warts

What You Should Know About Warts:

• Warts are common (10% of children).
• Warts are harmless and most can be treated at home.
• The sooner you treat them, the less they will spread.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Wart-Removing Acid:

• Buy a wart medicine with 17% salicylic acid (such as Compound W). No prescription is needed.
• Apply the acid once a day to the top of the wart. If there are many warts, treat the 3 largest ones.
• Since it's an acid, avoid getting any near the eyes or mouth. Also try to keep it off the normal skin.
• The acid will turn the wart into dead skin (it will turn white).

Duct Tape - Cover the Wart:

• The acid will work faster if it is covered with duct tape. Do not use regular tape.
• If you don't want to use an acid, use duct tape alone.
• Covering warts with duct tape can irritate the warts. This will turn on the body's immune system.
• Cover as many of the warts as possible. Cover at least 3 of them.
• The covered warts become red and start to die. Once this happens, often all the warts will go away.
• Try to keep the warts covered all the time.
• Remove the tape once per day, usually before bathing. Then replace it after bathing.
• Some children object to having the tape on at school. At the very least, tape it every night.

Remove Dead Wart:

• Once or twice a week, remove the dead wart material. Do this by paring it down with a disposable razor.
• This is easier to do than you think. It shouldn't cause any pain or bleeding.
• Soak the area first in warm water for 10 minutes. Reason: the dead wart will be easier to remove.
• Some children won't want you to cut off the layer of dead wart. Rub it off with a washcloth instead.

Prevention of Spread to Other Areas of Your Child's Body:

• Discourage your child from picking at the wart. Picking it and scratching a new area with the same finger can spread warts. A new wart can form in 1 to 2 months.
• Chewing or sucking on them can lead to similar warts on the face.
• If your child is doing this, cover the wart. Use a bandage.
• Keep your child's fingernails cut short and wash your child's hands more often.

What to Expect:

• Without treatment, warts go away in about 2 years.
• With home treatment, they can usually be cleared up in 2 to 3 months.
• There are no shortcuts to treating warts.

Return to School:

• Your child doesn't have to miss any child care or school for warts.
• There is only a mild risk that warts spread to others.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Warts develop on the feet, genitals, or face
• New warts develop after 2 weeks of treatment
• Warts are still present after 12 weeks of treatment
• You think your child needs to be seen

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Last Reviewed: 05/01/2025

Last Revised: 01/25/2025

Copyright 2000-2025 Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.