Verruca: Need to Know about Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infection

Verruca or warts are common significant cause of cosmetic concern and frustration of the patient. Social activities may be affected. Verruca are formed by benign proliferations of the skin and mucosa that are caused by infection with Human papilloma virus (HPV). These viruses do not produce acute signs or symptoms but induce a slow, focal expansion of epithelial cells. There are 100 types of Human papilloma virus (HPV). The natural history of common warts is for most of them to spontaneously resolve. But lesions are sometime uncomfortable. Warts typically continue to increase in size and distribution and may become more resistant to treatment over time. A significant proportion of women with genital HPV infection develops low-grade cervical lesions. Most of these low-grade lesions regress spontaneously; one study suggests that approximately 15 percent progress to high-grade cervical lesions within two years. High-grade cervical lesions have a strong malignant potential; one study found that about one-third of high-grade lesions progress to cancer within ten years.