Summer is the Season of Warts: Is Your Child at Risk?
Warts are very strongly associated with childhood and for good reasons. First of all, the average child has many more opportunities to come in contact with germs in general, and this includes the virus that triggers warts. Secondly, a child’s immune system often isn’t yet strong enough to fight off the infection that causes warts. Today Dr. Stuart Snyder and Dr. Sara Sharma of Maple Springs Foot Center, LLC are sharing information regarding this common summertime hazard that could affect your children.
A wart, when located on the palm, might or might not be bothersome to a child, depending on their level of sensitivity or embarrassment. But a wart that appears on the bottom of the foot – otherwise known as a plantar wart - causes pain, distress, and tenderness when pressed on by the weight of their body.
Although there are plenty of over-the-counter remedies (and even some “old wives’ tales” or other low-tech DIY solutions) that are supposed to work, in our experience these options are rarely effective or worth your time.
Therefore, if you suspect that your child has a plantar wart, we strongly recommend that you take them to visit a podiatrist instead of trying to treat them on your own.
There is a range of treatment methods available from your podiatrist, each with their strengths and weaknesses. When dealing with warts, there’s usually some type of trade-off. Medications and treatments that are weaker are less aggressive and have fewer side effects.
However, they may require multiple appointments to eliminate the wart. And while the more powerful medications may cause more discomfort than the weaker ones, they can also provide faster results.
On the other hand, for a wart that is very large or has stayed persistently resistant to treatment, the best treatment option may be to cut it out and remove it surgically.
The important thing to keep in mind when dealing with plantar warts is that, while it may take two or three appointments, these medical treatments are a safe way to get rid of plantar warts in days or weeks, in comparison to the months or even years, they may take to disappear on their own. And that makes for happier, healthier kids more quickly!
If you need help dealing with your child’s plantar warts, or any other foot issues, contact the offices of Dr. Stuart Snyder and Dr. Sara Sharma of Maple Springs Foot Center, LLC to schedule an appointment. Call us today us at (301) 762-3338 or book your appointment online.
