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Genital & Anal Warts
Anal warts are surprisingly common – it’s an affliction
we treat quite commonly. In fact many patients who come in
telling me they have hemorrhoids actually have warts. It makes
sense because many of the symptoms are very consistent with hemorrhoids.
Genital, venereal, and anal warts are caused by condylomata
acuminata, a sexually-transmitted virus. Its spread
has been difficult to stop, unfortunately,
because its long incubation period (the
time between acquiring it and the emergence
of symptoms) makes it difficult for the patient to find out who
gave it to them. Incubation
is 1 to 6 months. Estimates of how much
of the US adult population is infected
range as high as 50%, so it’s no surprise that
I see so many cases.
The virus is usually contracted by direct contact with an infected
person, and there’s no better place to incubate and grow a
virus than within the rectal mucosa (lining of the rectum). It
lies dormant until the immune system weakens
for some reason, then it flairs.
The first symptoms are a little like genital herpes. The patient
might develop genital sores, like cold sores,
flu-like symptoms, as the virus fights to
overcome the immune system’s
defenses.
As the virus proceeds, other symptoms emerge – anal/genital
warts themselves, itching, bleeding, irritation,
pain, discomfort, protrusion – similar
symptoms as with hemorrhoids.
Treatment
My treatment of anal warts is state-of-the-art
and similar to what most practitioners use. I remove them under local anaesthesia,
either with a surgical blade (excision) or heat (fulguration). The
sites usually heal without much scarring. This is minor, in-office
surgery that leaves the patient “ambulatory,” meaning
they are able to get up and walk out when it’s completed. Like
the rest of our procedures, it does not require
hospitalization, a major benefit often cited by our patients due
to the time and expense saved.
Even if there is no pain or other symptoms present, in any case
the warts must be removed. For the body’s immune system
to fight the virus, they have to go because the warts themselves
contain such a high viral load – they are basically all virus.
I’ve seen cases where they’ve narrowed the anal opening
considerably, interfering with normal bowel activity. Some
are as big as walnuts. Though it’s rare, they can also
degenerate and become malignant over a long period of time if left
untreated. That’s one reason I strongly recommend against
someone “just live with them” once they have been identified.
I treat cases that are relatively advanced, although there are
very advanced cases that I refer out to surgical
specialists.
These warts develop over the course of years. Usually by
the time I see the patient, they have been
in denial for that long about what they have. It’s the
kind of condition that’s difficult to admit to and to seek
treatment for, so I certainly understand. Plus of course not
many people know who to see when they are
ready to deal with it. There
aren’t
a lot of doctors who specialize in this type
of condition.
For long-term management after treatment, a combination of homeopathic
remedies and lifestyle adjustments can be
effective in keeping down the viral load,
or for prevention if no warts have emerged. The
virus that causes genital and anal warts
is thought to be incurable, but it can be
kept in check on a lifelong basis with no
symptoms. For
women it’s especially important to keep it managed because
the same virus can cause cervical dysplasia and
cervical cancer.
In the clinic we I don’t address preventive or systemic (whole-body)
treatment because we stay focused on the
immediate need of carefully removing the
warts, but anti-viral treatment, for those
who pursue that, can succeed. I
have very experienced wholistic practitioners
that I can refer to for long-term management.
I find that most people are just happy (very happy) to get rid
of them and leave it at that.
About Dr. Cranford
When To Seek Help
Are You In Pain?
Hemorrhoids
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