cutaneous warts

Question 1

what are cutaneous warts?

Answer 1

Genital warts, or anogenital warts, are a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI) characterised by small, skin-coloured or grey growths in the genital area. They are typically painless and present in regions traumatised during sexual intercourse.

Question 2

what causes cutaneous warts?

Answer 2

HPV serotypes 6 and 11

Question 3

how are cutaneous warts transmitted?

Answer 3

direct skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity.

Question 4

features of cutaneous warts?

Answer 4

Painless lumps on the genitals or anal area
Lumps that are either keratinised (hard) or non-keratinised (soft)
Areas of the body that are traumatised during sexual intercourse are commonly affected

Question 5

ix for cutaneous warts?

Answer 5

visual inspection
biopsy for hisotpathological confirmation

Question 6

mx for cutaneous warts?

Answer 6

If the patient is not concerned about the aesthetic aspect, a conservative approach can be adopted as many self-resolve within 6 months. Active treatment options include:
Podophyllotoxin: a plant-based antiviral that can destroy wart tissue
Imiquimod: an immune response modifier that stimulates the body’s immune system to fight the virus
Cryotherapy (a process that freezes the wart using liquid nitrogen) or ablative therapy can be used to treat keratinised warts
Sinecatechin ointment: a plant-based treatment that can reduce wart volume with regular use