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55
APPENDIX D
PLANTAR WARTS
Description
Warts (verruca) occur on any part of the body. They are a
reaction to infection with a microscopic virus which causes a
small swelling in the superficial horny layer of the skin. On
the sole of the foot where they are called plantar warts, the
lump is pressed into the underlying tissue and is thus embedded
and therefore painful. Recovery may be spontaneous but usually
treatment is necessary to destroy the wart down to healthy skin
by heat, cold, chemicals or excision. Slow removal with a
chemical solvent is the simplest method, but takes 6-12 weeks.
Incidence
At various times, different Croydon schools have reported
children suffering from plantar warts and enquiry has followed.
Typical examples are: -
In 1955, the school nurse examined all the children in John
Neunham School (approximately 400 children) and found 24 children
with plantar warts.
Children attending swimming - 20; Taking showers at
school - 22
Children not attending swimming - 4; Not taking showers
at school - 2
All had their own towels; and none did barefoot P. T. or
games.
At Gilbert Scott Junior (approximately 400 children);
7 had plantar warts.
All attended swimming and barefoot P. T. was performed.
At Gilbert Scott Infants (approximately 186 children);
No child was found with warts. Much barefoot P.T. was
carried out.