Anal warts are uncommon skin infection also known as Condylomata acuminata. Warts are benign tumors of the epidermis.They are caused by virus known as human papilloma virus (HPV).

Anal Warts are tiny, pinhead sized blemishes around the anus for sometime now and thought they’d go away on their own. But that did not happen, in fact, these small bumps grew to become pea-sized. This relatively common and bothersome condition does not appear as anal wart alone; it may present itself as anal genital wart, common warts on hands and plantar warts on the feet too.

Causes

The virus responsible for genital warts is called human papilloma virus (HPV). This virus can cause warts on the penis, vulva, urethra, vagina, cervix, and around the anus.

HPV infection around the genitals is common, although most people have no symptoms. Even if you do NOT have symptoms, however, you must be treated to avoid complications and spreading the condition to others.

Although much remains to be learned about how the papilloma virus progresses, doctors have observed that the warm, moist environment in the genital area seems to favor wart growth. Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during pregnancy and in patients with defective immune systems.

Symptoms

1· Raised, flesh-colored lesions on the genitals, anus, or surrounding skin

2· Cauliflower-like appearing growths around the anus or genitals

3· Increased dampness or moisture in the area of the growths

Signs and Tests

A genital examination reveals flesh-colored to white, flat or raised, single or clustered lesions anywhere on the genitalia.

In women, a pelvic examination may reveal growths on the vaginal walls or the cervix. Magnification (colposcopy) may be used to see lesions invisible to the naked eye. The tissue of the vagina and cervix may be treated with acetic acid to make the warts visible. A pap smear may note changes associated with HPV.

Treatment

Genital warts must be treated by a doctor. DO NOT use over-the counter remedies meant for other kinds of warts. Your doctor may treat genital warts by applying a skin treatment in the office. Or, the doctor may prescribe a medication that you apply at home several times per week.

Treatment of genital warts can be painful, and warts return after treatment in between 20% and 50% of people. Warts that return after being treated usually are not treated again unless you want to be retreated.

Surgical treatments include cryosurgery, surgical therapy:

Cryotherapy

A health professional applies liquid nitrogen to and around the warts.

First, the tissue is frozen with liquid nitrogen. Then, the tissue is allowed to thaw. The tissue is frozen again, if needed. The time of application varies by the health professional who applies the liquid nitrogen and the size of the warts.

The size and thickness of the warts determine the number and length of freeze/thaw cycles. Up to three treatments may be needed.

Surgery

Visible genital warts on the penis or vagina or around the anus are removed by excision, which means cutting the warts off with a surgical knife (scalpel). Warts on the cervix may be removed by laser or loop electrosurgical excision (LEEP).

Genital warts may be small, flat, flesh-colored bumps or tiny, cauliflower-like bumps. In men, genital warts can grow on the penis, near the anus, or between the penis and the scrotum. In women, genital warts may grow on the vulva and perinea area, in the vagina and on the cervix. Genital warts vary in size and may even be so small that you can’t see them. They can lead to cancer of the cervix in women or cancer of the penis in men.

Most patients with genital warts are seen between the ages of 17-33 years. Genital warts are highly contagious. You have a 60% risk of getting the infection in a single sexual contact with someone who has genital warts.

Genital warts do not usually hurt, but they can be itchy. The warts have varied appearances – from completely flat warts to rough cauliflower-like warts. They can appear on their own or in groups.

In males, genital warts often appear on the penis or underneath the foreskin. The warts can also be situated in the urethra, in most cases at the very end of it, and the area around the rectum.

In females, the virus can lead to changes in the cervix that may lead to cancer, so it’s important that it is diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Males infected with HPV can also be at risk for cancer of the penis and the anus.

Causes of Genital Warts

Like warts that appear on other areas of your skin, genital warts are caused by a virus — HPV — that infects the top layers of your skin. There are more than 100 different types of HPV, but only a few can cause genital warts. These strains of the virus are highly contagious and spread through sexual contact with an infected person. About two-thirds of people who have sexual contact with someone who has genital warts develop the condition — usually within three months of contact, but in some cases not for years.

Signs of Genital Warts

If you are infected with a strain of HPV that causes genital warts, you may develop symptoms of genital warts anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after exposure. In some cases, though, the virus may lay dormant in your system for a few years before you develop any genital warts symptoms.

It is possible that symptoms of genital warts may be missed if the warts are located within the vaginal walls. Always seek immediate help if you start displaying any of the genital warts symptoms. In some cases genital warts symptoms may be considered as symptoms of other problems, such as a yeast infection.

Genital warts can be so flat that they become invisible to the naked eye, but they usually make themselves felt through an itchy and burning sensation. ‘Invisible’ genital warts can be detected by a doctor as described below.

Genital warts can be invisible to the human eye, or can multiply rapidly into larger clusters. They can have the appearance of small flat bumps, or cauliflower-like growths. Many people may carry the virus for long periods of time without knowing that they are infected – something that can be confirmed with medical testing.

In many cases genital warts do not cause any symptoms, but they are sometimes associated with itching, burning, or tenderness. They may result in localized irritation, depending upon their anatomic location. Women who have genital warts inside the vagina may experience bleeding following sexual intercourse or an abnormal vaginal discharge. Rarely, bleeding or urinary obstruction may occur if the wart involves the urethral opening.

Genital warts symptoms can lead to cancer in the cervix so it important to receive proper medical treatment.

In men genital wart symptoms can infect the urethra, penis, scrotum, and rectal area. Warts may appear as soft, raised masses with a surface that can be smooth on the (penile shaft), or rough with many finger like projections (anal warts). Other genital wart symptoms may appear pearly, and cauliflower shaped, some are rough with a darker surface.