What do you know about warts? Common among kids, warts are generally harmless and go away on their own. A wart is a skin infection caused by viruses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. How does a child get warts? The HPV viruses that cause warts are passed from person to person by close physical contact or from something that a person with a wart touches, but your child won't automatically get warts from touching another person's wart. Kids who frequently have cuts or open skin or those who bite their nails tend to get warts because the viruses are able to find a place to enter the body and cause the wart. The length of time between contracting the virus that causes warts and when the warts appear varies and can be as long as several weeks. Are there different kinds of warts? A common wart is a small, dome-shaped bump that may resemble the head of a cauliflower. A flat wart is smoother than other kinds of warts and about the size of a pinhead. A plantar wart is found on the bottom of the foot and makes walking uncomfortable. A filiform wart has a finger-like shape and is flesh colored. Where on the body do warts appear? Warts can appear anywhere on the body, but most appear on the fingers, hands, and feet. Warts that are sexually transmitted may appear in the genital area. Filiform warts are often found around the mouth, eyes, or nose. Any area of the skin that is cut or scratched becomes more vulnerable to warts. Picking warts may cause warts to spread to other parts of the body. How can I prevent my child from getting warts? There is no way to prevent warts, but good hygiene should always be encouraged. Kids should wash their hands and skin regularly with soap and water. They should also wear waterproof sandals in public showers, locker rooms, and around public swimming pools or hot tubs. By the way, a child cannot get warts from a frog! Read How to treat warts for more information.