MedTerms Medical Dictionary

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Warts, plantar: Warts that grow on the soles of the feet.

Plantar warts are different from most other warts. They tend to be flat and cause the buildup of callus (that has to be peeled away before the plantar wart itself can be seen. Plantar warts may attack blood vessels deep in the skin. They can be quite painful. Plantar warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) type 1 and tend to affect teenagers.

By contrast, common warts on the skin of the fingers and hands appear as little mounds of overgrown skin with a rough dry surface. They do not as a rule grow down much and they do not tend to hurt. They are usually caused by HPV types 2 and 4 and by preference affect young children before their teens.

To avoid plantar warts, a child should be taught never to wear someone else's shoes. If a child gets plantar warts, they should be treated by a doctor. Plantar warts can be far more of a problem than common warts.

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