Primary care treatment approach to nongenital verruca

Nongenital verruca is a common ailment frequently encountered in the primary care setting. Although greater than half of verruca resolve spontaneously within a 2-year period, many have a propensity to spread and cause considerable discomfort if untreated. This characteristic makes it vital for the clinician to become competent in assessment and treatment of verruca. This article discusses etiologic and epidemiologic factors, diagnosis and prevention considerations, folk remedies, and common treatment options for the management of verruca. Included is a patient-teaching handout to offer the patient when dual office and home therapy is chosen. This article also reviews the newest treatment option, Cimetidine (Tagamet). Current research with this H2 antagonist offers hope for easier and less costly management of recalcitrant verruca.