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The U.S. Army finds a home cure for the common
wart!
Many pediatricians use cryotherapy with liquid
nitrogen to treat verruca vulgaris (common wart), which occurs
in 5% to 10% of all pediatric patients. The procedure, however,
has many drawbacks including the fear and discomfort children
experience; complications such as blisters, infections, and
pigment change (dark or light) of the skin; and the need
for frequent clinic visits for successful treatment.
People
have observed for some time the apparent success of duct
tape occlusion therapy for the treatment of common warts.
But until 2002 no randomized, prospective studies had previously
been done comparing tape with other therapies.
In a study
done in 2002*, 51 patients 3 to 22 years of age with common
warts were randomized to treatment with either cryotherapy
or duct tape. Results showed that 85% of patients in the
duct tape group had complete resolution of their warts compared
to 60% in the cryotherapy group. In addition, minor complications
were more common in the cryotherapy group. The researchers
also noted that warts that ultimately responded to tape therapy
showed at least partial resolution after two to three weeks
of treatment. The researchers
concluded that warts can be successfully treated at home
with inexpensive duct tape.
Here is the technique used in
the study:
- Cut a piece of duct tape to the size of the
wart and apply to the affected area
- Remove the tape after
6 days , then soak the wart in water
- Use a pumice stone
or emery board to rub away soft callus
- Leave tape off overnight,
then re-apply the following morning for 6 days
- If the tape
falls off prematurely, re-apply a new piece
- Continue the
treatment for up to two months
- If there is no improvement
after one month of treatment, consider discussing cryotherapy
with your doctor
Reprinted from Evans Army Community Hospital - Patient Education
Handouts: http://evans.amedd.army.mil/peds/PDF/ductape.pdf
The article this news was based on was published in: Dean
R. Focht III, MD; Carole Spicer, RN; Mary P. Fairchok, MD: Archives
of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine 2002;156:971-974.
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