Human papilloma virus proliferation in a healing burn

A 4-year-old boy sustained a superficial burn to his finger at the site of a viral papilloma. The burn was treated conservatively. During re-epithelialization the human papilloma virus (HPV) incorporated its genome in the regenerating cells, leading to a verruca as large as the original burn. Diagnosis was reinforced by a history from the patient's mother. Complete resolution of this complication was achieved with topical therapy.