title: Warts (non-genital).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), of which there are over 100 types, which probably infects the skin via areas of minimal trauma. Risk factors include use of communal showers, occupational handling of meat, and immunosuppression. In immunocompetent people, warts are harmless and resolve as a result of natural immunity within months or years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of treatments for warts (non-genital)? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to June 2008 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found 12 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this systematic, review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: intralesional bleomycin; cimetidine; contact immunotherapy; cryotherapy; duct tape occlusion; formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde; homeopathy; photodynamic treatment; pulsed dye laser; surgical procedures; topical salicylic acid; and zinc sulphate.
authors: Social Hygiene Service, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong SAR.
authors: Steven King-Fan
authors: SK
authors: Loo
authors: William Yuk-Ming
authors: WY
authors: Tang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001458:Bandages; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003452:Cryosurgery; D017679:Cryotherapy; D006801:Humans; D014860:Warts / Q000188:drug therapy; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D002927:Cimetidine