Genotype Distribution of Human Papillomavirus in Warts

HPV warts, non-cancerous, epidermal growths, are caused by the virus by generally entering the skin through areas where the skin is broken, fragile or extremely moist making the top layer of skin to grow rapidly, forming a wart. There are more than 200 genotypes of HPV and about 100 genotypes have been identified in different types of warts. Generally, HPV infection, in most people resolves itself within two years without causing any serious health issue but when HPV becomes active it may invade mucous membrane leading to warts or other serious consequences. Since prevalence of HPV varies significantly and exact genotype distribution of HPV in different warts is still not clearly defined, this review aims to assess the distribution of HPV genotypes in different warts, their clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment.