What are plantar warts. How do they affect children and adults. What are the most effective treatments for plantar warts. How can you prevent plantar warts from spreading. When should you seek medical attention for plantar warts.

Understanding Plantar Warts: Causes and Symptoms

Plantar warts are harmless skin growths that occur on the bottom of the feet. They are caused by a virus that stimulates rapid growth in the top layer of skin. While these warts often resolve on their own over time, they can be painful and bothersome, especially when walking.

What exactly causes plantar warts? The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the culprit behind these growths. The virus enters the body through tiny cuts or breaks in the skin, leading to the formation of warts. Plantar warts are highly contagious and can spread through direct contact or by sharing personal items like towels.

Recognizing Plantar Warts

How can you identify a plantar wart? Look for these common signs:

• A small, rough growth on the bottom of the foot
• Pain or tenderness when walking or standing
• Tiny black dots (often called “wart seeds”) within the growth
• Thickened skin over the affected area

Treatment Options for Plantar Warts

While many plantar warts don’t require treatment, those causing pain or spreading may need intervention. What are the most effective treatment options for plantar warts?

Over-the-Counter Treatments

Several over-the-counter options are available for treating plantar warts:

1. Salicylic acid: This is a common first-line treatment. It works by gradually peeling away the infected skin.
2. Duct tape: Some people find success with the duct tape method, which involves covering the wart with tape for extended periods.

How do you use these treatments? For salicylic acid, apply the medication directly to the wart daily, following the product instructions. With the duct tape method, cover the wart with tape for about a week, then remove it, soak the area, and gently file down the dead skin. Repeat this process for up to two months.

Prescription Treatments

If over-the-counter treatments aren’t effective, your doctor may recommend prescription options:

• Stronger topical medications
• Injections to stimulate the immune system
• Oral medications to combat the virus

Professional Medical Procedures for Plantar Warts

In some cases, more aggressive treatments may be necessary. What professional procedures are available for stubborn plantar warts?

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy involves freezing the wart with liquid nitrogen. How does it work? The extreme cold destroys the infected tissue, causing the wart to eventually fall off. This procedure may require multiple sessions for complete removal.

Surgical Removal

For persistent warts, surgical excision might be recommended. During this procedure, the doctor cuts out the wart and some surrounding tissue. While effective, this method can leave a scar and may require a longer recovery period.

Laser Treatment

Laser therapy uses intense light to destroy the blood vessels feeding the wart, causing it to die. This treatment is often reserved for warts that haven’t responded to other methods.

Home Care and Pain Management for Plantar Warts

Alongside medical treatments, what can you do at home to manage plantar warts and alleviate discomfort?

• Wear comfortable shoes and socks to reduce pressure on the wart
• Use padding or cushions in shoes to make walking more comfortable
• Apply over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain management
• Keep the affected area clean and dry to prevent further infection

It’s important to note that aspirin should not be given to children under 20 due to its association with Reye syndrome, a serious illness.

Preventing the Spread of Plantar Warts

How can you prevent plantar warts from spreading to other parts of the body or to other people?

• Avoid touching or scratching warts
• Wash hands thoroughly after treating a wart
• Don’t share personal items like towels or socks
• Wear sandals or shower shoes in public areas like locker rooms or pools
• Keep feet clean and dry

When to Seek Medical Attention for Plantar Warts

While most plantar warts are harmless, certain situations warrant a visit to the doctor. When should you seek medical attention for plantar warts?

• The wart is causing significant pain or interfering with daily activities
• Home treatments have been ineffective after several weeks
• The wart is spreading or multiplying
• You have diabetes or a weakened immune system
• You notice signs of infection, such as increased pain, swelling, redness, or fever

Special Considerations for Children with Plantar Warts

Plantar warts in children require special attention. How should parents approach the care of a child with plantar warts?

First and foremost, reassure your child that warts are common and not a cause for embarrassment. Encourage them to avoid picking at the wart to prevent spreading. When using over-the-counter treatments, carefully follow the instructions and consider consulting a pediatrician before starting any treatment regimen.

For pain management in children, use age-appropriate doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Remember to never give aspirin to children under 20 due to the risk of Reye syndrome.

Advanced Treatment Options for Persistent Plantar Warts

For particularly stubborn plantar warts that don’t respond to conventional treatments, what advanced options are available?

Immunotherapy

This approach involves stimulating the body’s immune system to fight the virus causing the wart. It can be done through topical treatments, injections, or oral medications that boost immune response.

Bleomycin Injections

Bleomycin is an anti-cancer drug that, when injected directly into the wart, can be effective in destroying the tissue. However, this treatment can be painful and is typically reserved for cases where other treatments have failed.

Photodynamic Therapy

This treatment involves applying a light-sensitive medication to the wart and then exposing it to strong light. The combination destroys the wart tissue.

These advanced treatments should only be considered under the guidance of a healthcare professional, typically a dermatologist or podiatrist experienced in treating resistant plantar warts.

Living with Plantar Warts: Coping Strategies and Lifestyle Adjustments

While dealing with plantar warts, what lifestyle adjustments can help manage symptoms and promote healing?

• Choose footwear carefully: Opt for shoes that don’t put pressure on the affected area
• Use orthotic inserts: These can help redistribute pressure away from the wart
• Practice good foot hygiene: Keep feet clean and dry, and change socks daily
• Boost your immune system: A healthy diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep can support your body’s ability to fight the virus
• Manage stress: High stress levels can weaken the immune system, potentially prolonging the duration of warts

How can you cope with the psychological impact of plantar warts? Remember that warts are a common, treatable condition. If you’re feeling self-conscious, talk to a trusted friend, family member, or healthcare provider. Support groups or online forums for people with similar experiences can also be helpful.

The Role of Podiatrists in Treating Plantar Warts

Podiatrists play a crucial role in the treatment of plantar warts. How can a podiatrist help with your plantar wart problem?

Podiatrists are foot specialists who can provide expert diagnosis and treatment for plantar warts. They can differentiate between warts and other foot conditions that may present similarly, such as corns or calluses. Podiatrists have access to a range of treatment options, including those that may not be available over the counter.

What should you expect during a podiatry appointment for plantar warts?

1. Physical examination of the foot
2. Discussion of symptoms and medical history
3. Possible diagnostic procedures (e.g., skin scraping for microscopic examination)
4. Recommendation of a treatment plan
5. Advice on prevention and home care

Regular follow-up appointments may be necessary to monitor progress and adjust treatment as needed.

Myths and Facts About Plantar Warts

There are many misconceptions about plantar warts. Let’s clarify some common myths:

Myth: Plantar warts have roots that grow deep into the foot

Fact: Warts don’t have roots. The black dots often seen in plantar warts are actually small blood vessels that have grown into the wart.

Myth: Plantar warts are caused by toads or frogs

Fact: Plantar warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), not by contact with amphibians.

Myth: Duct tape alone can cure plantar warts

Fact: While the duct tape method can be effective for some people, it’s not a guaranteed cure and often works best in combination with other treatments.

Myth: Once you’ve had a plantar wart, you’re immune to future infections

Fact: You can get plantar warts multiple times. Having one doesn’t confer immunity against future infections.

Understanding these facts can help you approach plantar wart treatment with realistic expectations and make informed decisions about your care.

Plantar Warts in Children: Care Instructions

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Overview

A plantar wart is a harmless skin growth. Plantar warts occur on the bottom of the feet and may be painful when your child walks. A virus makes the top layer of skin grow quickly, causing a wart. Warts usually go away on their own in months or years.

Warts are spread easily. Your child can be infected again by touching the wart and then touching another part of the body. Others can also be infected by sharing towels or other personal items.

Most plantar warts do not need treatment. But if warts cause your child pain or spread, your doctor may recommend that you use an over-the-counter treatment. These include salicylic acid or duct tape. Your doctor may prescribe a stronger medicine to put on warts or may inject them with medicine. Your doctor also can remove warts through surgery or by freezing them.

Follow-up care is a key part of your child’s treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if your child is having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your child’s test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Use salicylic acid or duct tape as your doctor directs. You put the medicine or the tape on a wart for a while and then file down the dead skin on the wart. You use the salicylic acid treatment for 2 to 3 months or the tape for 1 to 2 months.
• If your doctor prescribes medicine to put on warts, use it exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with a medicine.
• Give your child comfortable shoes and socks to wear. Avoid shoes that put a lot of pressure on the foot.
• Pad the wart with doughnut-shaped felt or a moleskin patch. You can buy these at a drugstore. Put the pad around the plantar wart so that it relieves pressure on the wart. You also can place pads or cushions in your child’s shoes to make walking more comfortable.
• Give your child an over-the-counter medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) if your child has pain. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a serious illness.
• Do not give a child two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.

When should you call for help?

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• Your child has signs of infection, such as:
  • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
  • Red streaks leading from a wart.
  • Pus draining from a wart.
  • A fever.

Watch closely for changes in your child’s health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

• Your child does not get better as expected.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

Enter L744 in the search box to learn more about “Plantar Warts in Children: Care Instructions”.

Foot & Ankle Medical Clinic: Podiatry

A painful plantar wart can remain hidden on the bottom of the foot where it grows in the plantar fascia (the wide band of tissue that spans the bottom of your foot, helping to form your arch). Often the only signs are the pain when weight is applied to the foot and the appearance of a small bump under the skin. This skin often has to be carefully removed by your foot doctor to adequately treat a plantar wart.

Treatments for painful hidden plantar warts include the following:

1. Skin removal and debridement—Emery paper, skin files, and debridement tools are used to sand away dead skin to reveal the hidden plantar wart.

2. Acid melting—Strong acid solutions are carefully applied to gradually peel away layers of the wart.

3. Cryotherapy—Freezing with liquid nitrogen allows large pieces of the wart to be broken off. Cryotherapy and acid therapy can be used concomitantly for faster results.

4. Vaccine treatment—Medication is taken internally to kill the virus that causes warts. These medications have certain side effects that you should discuss with your foot doctor.

Avoiding and minimizing contact with microbes by wearing sandals or shower shoes in common areas like locker rooms, showers, etc. , will decrease your chances of getting warts.

If you need help treating a painful hidden plantar wart, contact your podiatrist. Dr. Scott Nelson of Foot and Ankle Medical Clinic in Garland, TX (county of Dallas), is a board-certified and highly experienced podiatrist who has helped people suffering from all types of foot and ankle injuries and deformities. From bunions to diabetic foot problems, sports injuries, and fungal nails, you can trust that Dr. Nelson and his staff are wholeheartedly devoted to your foot health. Please contact our office with any questions you may have or to schedule an appointment by calling 972-414-9800.

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How to quickly get rid of a cough: effective remedies for adults and children – December 14, 2022

We bet you have visited the pharmacy more than once this season

Photo: Irina Sharova / 72.RU

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around whom you will not ask, everyone is sick. Kindergartens are closed for quarantine, and clinics are crowded, everyone wants to get an appointment with their next SARS. At this time, advice on how to recover quickly is especially relevant, because for many, a long sick leave is an unaffordable luxury. Our colleagues from Vokrug Sveta spoke with infectious disease specialist, executive director of the National Scientific Society of Infectious Diseases Denis Usenko .

Please note: doctors do not recommend self-treatment and, at the slightest sign of deterioration, they advise you to contact specialists.

— The common cold is not a diagnosis, but a common, “popular” name for all seasonal diseases of the upper respiratory tract, which can be both viral and bacterial in nature, which is very important in treatment, Denis Usenko explained.

The doctor notes that usually the body is able to cope with ARVI on its own, but in order for this process to be less painful, it is necessary to stop the symptoms correctly.

If you have a cough with sputum that is difficult to pass, the expert advises using mucolytics – they are also effective for persistent rhinitis and sinusitis. Choose drugs based on carbocysteine.

The action of mucolytics can be seen on the first or second day of administration. If you don’t get better, you should see a doctor. But it is undesirable to bring down the temperature below 38.5 degrees.

– Use paracetamol or ibuprofen-based antipyretics for high fever, but only when the temperature is above 38.5 degrees, unless some other chronic medical condition requires otherwise. By raising the temperature, the body fights the infection,” said Denis Usenko.

If you suffer from a sore throat, the expert recommends remedies based on lysozyme.

Lysozyme is an enzyme in the human body that has antimicrobial and antiviral effects, but retains normal microflora, and also helps to strengthen local immunity.

The doctor advises not to rely heavily on traditional medicine, especially when it comes to children. Onions, honey, tea, lemon, garlic, cranberries and other products are not a panacea for all ills, but various herbs and herbal products can cause an allergic reaction.

We recently prepared a step-by-step guide for those who got sick on the first day. We all know that sometimes a cold can go away just as suddenly as it started. Let’s see how we can help her.

Morning , the first day of illness. If you wake up with a reddened throat and stuffy nose, be sure to gargle to remove the buildup. Therapist Sergey Cheryomushkin advises to take a solution of propolis tincture and water half an hour before meals (1 tablespoon of infusion to 5 tablespoons of water). Next, rinse your nose with saline. For breakfast, drink tea with lemon and a tablespoon of rosehip syrup. Of the drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used. Before leaving the house, put drops in your nose.

Sergey Cheryomushkin — Chief Therapist of the Central Directorate of Health — a branch of Russian Railways, Head of the Department, therapist of the highest qualification category, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases and Gastroenterology of the Moscow State Medical University.

If you feel unwell during the day at your workplace, don’t wait for the evening – start treatment right away.

– Ascorbic acid can provide first aid. But do not use tablets, but powder, which penetrates the blood faster and does no harm if taken on an empty stomach. When treating, you will need 1 gram of ascorbic acid: pour it into a teaspoon, eat it and drink it with tea, you can with lemon. If gargling at work is not possible, an inhalation spray will come in handy, for example, based on iodine with menthol, the expert advises.

The evening of is the time of the most active fight against a cold. Powdered aspirin can also be used. The doctor also suggests choosing a drink based on rosehip, blackcurrant, sea buckthorn, honey and lemon. Drink it in small sips, warm, throughout the evening.

Refrain from hot baths, with a cold, the patient needs only dry heat.

– Moisture promotes the growth of bacteria, and our task is to reduce their number as much as possible. But you can make a mustard foot bath. Dilute 2 tablespoons of dry mustard in hot water, lower your legs and hold for 15-20 minutes, carefully adding hot water from time to time. After the procedure, vigorously rub your feet with a towel, put on dry woolen socks, the therapist concludes. – Before going to bed, you can chop a few cloves of garlic in a plate, a head of onion and put next to the bed.

General practitioner Alexandra Myznikova recalls that today there is not a single antiviral “cold medicine” with proven effectiveness.

— The production of antibodies and the elimination of the virus from the body takes a certain time, the duration of which also does not depend on the amount of pepper, garlic, lemon and other miracle foods eaten. Therefore, the well-known aphorism that “a cold is treated with drugs for 7 days, and without drugs for a week” remains true today, she says.

It’s not a secret for anyone that you should not drink antiviral and antibiotics on your own in case of SARS. It is better to consult a doctor who will prescribe a competent treatment. But if there is no time at all and you don’t want to fall out of the usual rhythm of life for a long time, natural honey can be an excellent helper with a dry cough, relieve inflammation and strengthen the immune system. The main thing is to use it correctly.

The first thing to remember is that honey cannot stand high temperatures. When heated above 40 ºС, honey changes its structure, as a result, hydroxymethylfurfural is formed in it. And if you heat honey over 50 ºС, it will completely lose almost all useful properties.

— It is better to eat honey with hot tea or hot milk as a bite. If you want to mix it into a drink, you can only heat it up to 40 ºС in order to avoid the formation of harmful substances, – said Gennady Kovalev, chairman of the regional society of beekeepers “Ural bee”. – As for the storage of honey, the optimum temperature is +8 ºС. If you observe the temperature regime, honey can be stored for a very long time without losing its beneficial qualities.

It is worth noting that the horror stories about the harmfulness of hydroxymethylfurfural in honey are greatly exaggerated if consumed in a reasonable amount. Oxymethylfurfural is formed by heating carbohydrate compounds, in this case, fructose, in an acidic environment. GOST limits the permissible content of hydroxymethylfurfural in 1 kilogram of honey to 25 milligrams. The content of hydroxymethylfurfural in fresh honey is close to zero, in overheated honey it is more than 80 mg/kg.

Back in 1975, the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences conducted studies that showed that the daily intake of hydroxymethylfurfural into the body with food in the amount of 2 milligrams per 1 kilogram of weight does not pose a danger to humans. Therefore, if you use even heated honey in a reasonable amount, there will be no harm to health. For example, in carbonated drinks, the content of hydroxymethylfurfural can even reach 300-350 mg / l.

— Honey is a recognized remedy in the treatment and prevention of colds. But it must be remembered that this is by no means a medicine, it is a product that comes in addition to the main doctor’s prescriptions. In the period of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections, only natural honey and its products can have a positive effect on the body, accelerate its recovery, – said general practitioner Elena Shabunina . – For example, acacia honey is known as a good general tonic, linden honey has expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties in diseases of the throat and bronchi. Mustard honey has a good effect on inflammatory processes in the body, has a healing effect on the respiratory system. And May (early) honey has bactericidal and expectorant properties.

If, having fallen ill, you dared to call your mother or grandmother and tell about what is happening, then you are provided with an iodine net and socks with salt. Which of these will really help, and which is useless and dangerous – we figured out in a cold test.

Many people know that garlic can be used to prevent colds. It produces phytoncides – active substances that kill microbes. But people with gastritis and a sick stomach should be careful with garlic.

Gargling with salt and baking soda helps relieve throat infections. This solution can eliminate swelling and reduce the symptoms of tonsillitis, stomatitis, gingivitis and other diseases.

But making iodine mesh to relieve cough is not worth it. Iodine has a slight warming effect, but nothing more. And if you draw them on the throat and back, then it will easily enter the body. An excess of iodine can lead to unpleasant consequences, such as hyperthyroidism.

Hot potato inhalations for a runny nose also do not pass without a trace for the body, they are especially contraindicated for children. During such inhalation, it is difficult to control the temperature, and too hot steam can cause burns to the nasopharyngeal mucosa and damage to the vocal cords. In general, we have already talked about the benefits and harms of potatoes.

But what about rubbing the body with vinegar or vodka against a temperature of ? When a person has a fever and not all drugs can be given, rubdowns work well. But do not forget that before the procedure, the same vinegar must be diluted. If you start wiping yourself with essence, you will, of course, forget about the temperature, but only because you will get burns.

Doctors do not recommend dripping a solution with honey into the nose in case of a runny nose, because honey is an allergen. If you don’t know if you are allergic to this product or not, why take the risk? Moreover, due to washing the nose with honey, Quincke’s edema may begin.

Raspberry Jam really helps bring down the fever. Raspberries are a good aspirin, and jam can be consumed if you feel unwell. Assuming you don’t have any allergies.

Doctors will not mind if you drink mulled wine to prevent colds. Just don’t go overboard with prevention. But when already sick, it will be useless.

Black radish juice and honey will save you from bronchitis. Together they turn into an effective expectorant, thanks to this combination, sputum is well discharged. But do not forget that radish is a highly irritating product, and not everyone can do it. For example, if you have gastritis or pancreatitis, expect problems.

For the treatment of angina, folk advisers suggest the following option: pour one tablespoon of kerosene into a glass of warm water . Drink half a glass, and gargle with the remaining portion. But doctors categorically do not recommend repeating this. And if you did this trick and survived, congratulations! Kerosene prophylaxis will send you to the toxicology department before you feel any relief.

• even without a test: just one new symptom by which you can determine if you have coronavirus in the sixth wave;

• all to a psychiatrist: The Ministry of Health has made changes to examinations for work – how will this affect people;

• how much to treat a runny nose and why nasal drops are harmful: we deal with doctors.

Why does dry cough last for a long time? – reference book Omega-Kyiv

Dry cough is not an independent problem and disease. Cough is a reflex of the body that occurs due to the appearance of an allergic or bacterial pathogen. It is for this reason that cough is a concomitant symptom of more than 100 different diseases, from the usual SARS to oncology.

Types of dry cough:

• Acute. Such a cough begins abruptly, but with proper treatment quickly turns into a wet one and disappears after a few days;
• Drawstring. This type of cough is characterized by a rather slow course and can torment a person for more than three months;
• Chronic. Such a cough lasts more than three months and does not go away when taking medicines with an expectorant effect.

Diseases accompanied by dry cough:

• Acute respiratory viral infection. SARS and acute respiratory infections are the most common cause of cough. A cough can be wet or dry, pass quickly or accompany the human body for several weeks. The most effective way to deal with ARVI is to fight cough using inhalations from natural herbs;
• Pneumonia. This is a complication that occurs as a result of secondary infection after an acute respiratory viral infection;
• Whooping cough, measles. Children’s infectious diseases, which are characterized by a strong dry cough;
• Tuberculosis. A disease that affects the respiratory system and causes a prolonged dry cough. There are two forms of the disease: open and closed. The first is characterized by expectoration of sputum with blood, while the second is not accompanied by particularly striking signs;
• Chronic bronchitis.
• A disease in which there is indolent inflammation in the bronchi;
• Oncological disease of the respiratory system. Prolonged dry cough can be caused by oncological lesions of the lungs, bronchi, throat and trachea. Each of these types of cancer is accompanied by a hysterical cough that does not go away after taking expectorants. If a cough occurs that does not go away for more than two weeks, you must contact the clinic and undergo a comprehensive examination, conduct a bronchoscopy and be tested for tumor markers;
• Allergic cough. A prolonged cough can be caused by an allergic reaction to food, animal hair, mold in the apartment, etc.;
• Asthma. Bronchial asthma is one of the most common diseases of the respiratory system. With asthma, a dry cough occurs, accompanied by attacks of suffocation;
• Professional problems. People who work in difficult conditions (mines, sand and granite quarries) may experience a chronic dry cough due to regular irritation of the respiratory system;
• Environmental factors. Frequent use of household chemicals with a high content of chlorine or outdoor air polluted with exhaust gases become the causes of a prolonged dry cough. Regular chemical poisoning has an irritating effect on the organs of the respiratory system.

How to get rid of a cough?

To cure chronic dry cough, first of all it is necessary to know exactly the source of irritation or the cause of the occurrence.