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This information has been obtained from questionnaires completed
when children attended for treatment at school clinics.
They were also asked how often they washed their feet at home.
Over 70% of girls from one secondary modern school answered
"daily", but 30% only from a secondary selective girls school
where over 40% washed their feet three or fewer times a week.
At a secondary selective boys' school, 30% of sufferers from
plantar warts washed their feet everyday and 42% only three or
fewer times per week.
Conclusion
This and other evidence is difficult to interpret. However,
it is clear that plantar warts are found more frequently in
older children and more in girls than boys.
Reasonable action includes:-
1. To restrict barefoot drill and games for older children.
2. To impose sterilising techniques for showers and swimming
baths, but to realise that these are poor safeguards.
3. To inform children, parents and especially P. T. instructors
about plantar warts, so that infectious children can be referred
for early treatment (see also 5).
4. Such children must be excluded from barefoot drill and games,
school showers and swimming.
5. Talks on foot care should be given to older pupils especially
girls, emphasising the need for well fitting shoes
and socks to protect the soles of the feet. Washing the
feet every night at home, particularly after school showers
and bathing may understandably appear unnecessary to children
but is perhaps a useful safeguard.