A Clinical Study on Viral Warts in Five-Year-Period (2007~2011)

Lee, Sang Yoon; Kim, Shin Han; Son, Hyun Ok; Chun, Sin Wook; Song, Jae Seok; Cho, Han Kyoung

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Viral warts are common viral infections and are usually self-limiting. However, there have been few studies assessing the characteristics of patients with viral warts.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of viral warts during a five-year-period.
METHODS
We carried out a retrospective analysis of patients with viral warts who had been diagnosed in the Myongji hospital from January 2007 to December 2011.
RESULTS
One thousand seven hundred and ninety patients with viral warts were assessed. A group of patients aged under 10 years had the highest occurrence of common warts (46.8%). The mean age was 16.9 years. Hands (47.7%) were more commonly involved than feet (36.4%). Cryotherapy was used to treat most of the patients. One thousand and sixty-one patients (59.3%) showed complete resolution of the wart lesion in the clinical ground.
CONCLUSION
The number of patients with viral warts is currently increasing. This study provides useful data on the prevalence and characteristics of viral warts.