Warts may occur anywhere on the body. They are caused by a virus that infects the skin, and they can be passed from person to person. Over time, they may disappear without any treatment.
Several over-the-counter remedies are usually effective. Duofilm is a good one to start with. It is applied to a wart once a day, and then the wart is covered with a Band-Aid. This treatment softens the wart, and after the daily bath/shower the Band-Aid is removed, the wart filed down to remove the topmost layers, and the medication and Band-Aid are reapplied. Be careful not to get the Duofilm on the skin surrounding the wart because it may be irritating. This treatment, performed daily, is usually effective in three to four weeks.
Warts located on the sole of the foot, termed plantar warts, require a different treatment. An over-the-counter medicine called Mediplast is usually effective and painless. This medicine is sold in packets. Cut a piece of Mediplast large enough to cover the wart and stick it onto the lesion; use adhesive tape if necessary to keep it in place. Keep the medication plastered against the wart 24 hours a day. Remove it after the bath/shower, file down the wart, and apply a new piece. This usually works in about four weeks.
Warts that fail to respond to these measures may require other therapy. Warts located near or under the nails usually do not respond to these medications. You should discuss warts with your child's physician before initiating treatment. Some lesions that may resemble warts can be other conditions, so your physician may need to see your child before prescribing treatment.
Interestingly, some warts respond to suggestion or hypnosis with rapid resolution. Duct tape has even been found to be effective.
Here are some photos of warts: http://www.nsc.gov.sg/cgi-bin/WB_ContentGen.pl?id=188