Venereal Warts
(genital warts)
What are venereal warts?
Venereal warts are a fairly common sexually transmitted disease (STD)
caused by a specific virus that affects the skin or mucous membranes.
The virus usually causes cauliflower-like fleshy growths in moist areas
in and around the sex organs.
Who gets venereal warts?
Any sexually active person can be infected with venereal warts. Most
often, venereal warts are found in young (age 15 to 30 years) people who
have multiple sex partners. Those whose immune systems are compromised
are more likely to become infected and to have a more serious infection
than others.
How are venereal warts spread?
Venereal warts are generally spread through sexual contact, but can
also be spread from mother to child (usually found in the child¹s throat
or mouth) during birth.
What are the symptoms of venereal warts?
Venereal warts appear as soft fleshy growths that vary in size, are
frequently painless and can be raised, pointed or flat. The warts may
appear singly or in clusters.
How soon do symptoms appear?
Symptoms usually appear about two to four months after exposure.
When and for how long is a person able to spread venereal warts?
The infected person is contagious for as long as warts are evident.
When warts are treated or removed, the patient is no longer infectious.
Does past infection make a person immune?
No. Previous infection with warts does not make a person immune from
repeat infection.
What is the treatment for venereal warts?
Warts can be treated by a chemical called podophyllin or by surgical
removal. In some cases, warts may be 'frozen' and removed by a process
called cryosurgery.
What can be the effect of not being treated for venereal warts?
If a person is not treated, the warts will very likely continue to grow
and spread. There is an association between this specific virus and some
genital or rectal cancers.
What can be done to prevent the spread of venereal warts?
There are a number of ways to prevent the spread of venereal warts:
Source: NY State Department of Health
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