Many parents wonder whether or not infants get warts as it is contagious as we all know. However, it is important to understand the causes of warts. Warts are caused by a virus known as human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus gets into a broken skin by cuts and scratches. Eventually the virus causes uncontrollable growth of cells on the skin. The warts are either smooth or rough and can be skin colored or dark.
Warts like the genital warts cannot affect the infants as these warts are transmitted sexually. The flat warts are common on children as they are smooth and small. However, they are found on the faces of older children. The plantar warts usually appear on the feet, mainly on the soles. The warts cannot grow on the infant feet, as the infants are not exposed to contagious surfaces.
Another type of the warts is the palmer wart where the warts grow on the palms. According to the medical research, still this type of wart does not affect infants. In most common cases the warts prevalence is common in children between 12 -16 years. The bumps known as the filiform kinds are usually grown on the chins and noses. The warts are not common in infants but common at older years in the childhood.
The warts virus is commonly spread through children playing with friends, sharing things like toys and towels. Through these ways the children can pick the warts virus. Infants are not exposed to these activities thus reducing the chances of picking the virus. Children who have the habit of biting their nails can create cuts on the skin. This exposes the skin to the entry of the virus at infant age this is not common.
The virus can also be picked in public swimming pools and public showers looking at this mode we ask can infants get warts? We find that infants cannot be found in these areas. These growths are contagious from one child to another child; it is uncommon to get contact between two infants. Thus, we find that warts are not common are not in infants as they are not active. Hung nails causes pick-ups by infants when shortened they reduce the chances of getting warts.
The only common way which infants can get the warts is during the birth from the infected mother. However, the warts are not visible at this time. This is common as the infants’ immune system is weak, but those with strong immune system are not susceptible. The skin of the infant is mostly protected as a part of the baby care reducing the exposure of the skin to surfaces with warts.
The body creates antibodies to fight these bumps and thus no special medication is required as they disappear with time. It is usually advisable to seek pediatrician’s advice if warts are suspected in infants, as this condition is rare. The warts are not usually painful except those on the soles and at the same time are harmless. From the common sources of the virus we find that it is rare for infants to get warts.
So the possibilities of this problem on an infant is rare, but it is real. Please know that there can be real issues though, especially at these early years in a baby’s life. So any question should be addressed by the pediatrician as soon as possible.
