The Causes of Warts
Richard Sutter
May 20, 2007
When a virus (the human papillomavirus or HPV) invades the traumatized skin, body lining or mucous membrane, warts are formed. These warts take different shapes and character according to their locations on the human body – some being painful, others painless. Also, some of the warts are benign (non-cancerous) while some again, like the genital warts tend to become cancerous (cervical cancer) if left untreated for a long period of time. Besides, some of them are highly contagious whereas a few others are not so easily contacted. However, each type of wart has its own causative value and a pattern of cycle that it follows.
Common wart usually appears on the hands (fingers) in the form of a single bump or a cluster taking the shape of a darkish looking broccoli. These warts are generally caused through physical touch with an affected person. Once the virus gets into the body, it passes through the bloodstream, taking shelter in the nerve roots and remains dormant till the host’s immune system goes weak for it to flare up.
Planter warts affect the sole of the victim, turning his walking to a very painful experience. Here the virus lurks in the slippery boardwalks near a swimming pool or a common bathhouse. Bare foot walking is nothing short of asking the virus to get into the sole of the feet through any small lesion or pores. After a suitable incubation period, as also taking the cue from the host’s immune deficiency, the warts appear on the sole, thereby making the person immobile.
The plane or flat warts that usually appear on the face may be caused through hugging or kissing an infected individual. In the case of a male, the infection happens from using the razor of an infected person, but with the advent of ‘throw away single use razors’ have become personal, and so this probability is more or less non-existent now.
Genital warts that appear in the genital or anal area are clear examples of STD or sexually transmitted diseases. Unprotected sexual intercourse with an affected person can give rise to genital warts, no matter how healthy or weak the partner may be.
A person working in a meat-processing factory in New Hampshire had warts appearing on his fingers after seven months of service. Detailed examination revealed that some of the infected meat had caused the virus getting into his hands.
Contrary to all beliefs, a ship’s captain had planter warts though he never ventured to visit swimming pools even when the ship berthed. Investigations revealed that the plumbers who came to fix his personal toilet on board the ship had left the virus on the toilet floor.
A clergyman’s wife who led a very pious life developed genital warts. But then, she was very fond of acquiring pantyhose from the local shops in Nairobi and using them without proper washing.
One cause of warts appearing in the human body that is almost always common is linked to the immunity system. Greater the immunity, lesser the cause of warts.
Common wart usually appears on the hands (fingers) in the form of a single bump or a cluster taking the shape of a darkish looking broccoli. These warts are generally caused through physical touch with an affected person. Once the virus gets into the body, it passes through the bloodstream, taking shelter in the nerve roots and remains dormant till the host’s immune system goes weak for it to flare up.
Planter warts affect the sole of the victim, turning his walking to a very painful experience. Here the virus lurks in the slippery boardwalks near a swimming pool or a common bathhouse. Bare foot walking is nothing short of asking the virus to get into the sole of the feet through any small lesion or pores. After a suitable incubation period, as also taking the cue from the host’s immune deficiency, the warts appear on the sole, thereby making the person immobile.
The plane or flat warts that usually appear on the face may be caused through hugging or kissing an infected individual. In the case of a male, the infection happens from using the razor of an infected person, but with the advent of ‘throw away single use razors’ have become personal, and so this probability is more or less non-existent now.
Genital warts that appear in the genital or anal area are clear examples of STD or sexually transmitted diseases. Unprotected sexual intercourse with an affected person can give rise to genital warts, no matter how healthy or weak the partner may be.
A person working in a meat-processing factory in New Hampshire had warts appearing on his fingers after seven months of service. Detailed examination revealed that some of the infected meat had caused the virus getting into his hands.
Contrary to all beliefs, a ship’s captain had planter warts though he never ventured to visit swimming pools even when the ship berthed. Investigations revealed that the plumbers who came to fix his personal toilet on board the ship had left the virus on the toilet floor.
A clergyman’s wife who led a very pious life developed genital warts. But then, she was very fond of acquiring pantyhose from the local shops in Nairobi and using them without proper washing.
One cause of warts appearing in the human body that is almost always common is linked to the immunity system. Greater the immunity, lesser the cause of warts.
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