Anal Warts: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Cost

Anal Warts, also known as condylomata acuminate or venereal warts, are small, noncancerous (benign) growths that appear on the skin and mucous membranes of the genitals. Anal Warts are not contagious from person to person through casual contact; they can only be spread through direct sexual contact with an infected individual.

There are several types of Anal Warts that can vary in size, color, and shape. These include:

• Flat/smooth/ularial lesions: These usually occur near the opening of your anus and may be small flat pink bumps.
• Acropapillary lesions: These generally appear around the lower edge of your anus and look like pale small bumps with a pointed end (like a flower stalk).
• Fleshy/pedunculated lesions: These characteristic warts appear as raised bumps with a “tail” (a thin extension) coming from it.
• Condylomata lata: These warts appear flat or raised with an uneven texture and an irregular border. They tend to be larger than other types of Anal Warts and have an even greater risk of transmitting HPV from one person to another.
• Perianal cysts: These are not technically considered Anal Warts but they may accompany them if HPV is present in the area causing inflammation.

• Anal Warts, also known as condyloma, are caused by a virus in the human papillomavirus (HPV) family called HPV Types 6 and 11.
• The virus is spread through skin-to-skin genital contact and is most commonly transmitted during anal and/or genital intercourse.
• It can also spread through other intimate activities such as digital-anal stimulation.
• Anal Warts may also form when there is a weakened immune system from HIV or other immunosuppressive diseases.

The most common symptom of Anal Warts is the appearance of small, flesh-colored bumps near or around the anus or rectum.

Other symptoms may include:

• Itching
• Burning
• Pain while defecating
• Difficulty sitting due to irritations.
• Bleeding and foul-smelling discharge (in severe cases).

Here are some ways to prevent Anal Warts:

• Practicing safe sex methods: Use condoms during anal sex to reduce the risk of developing Anal Warts by preventing skin-to-skin contact between an infected partner and the anus.
• Getting vaccinated: HPV vaccinations protect against types of genital warts most often associated with Anal Warts.
• Talking to a doctor about medications: Topical medications can help eliminate or significantly reduce the number of existing external genital or Anal Warts.
• Avoiding irritants: Overwashing, scratching, or irritating the area around the anus can increase your risk of developing Anal Warts and make existing ones worse, so it’s important to be gentle when cleaning around that area and wearing breathable underwear when possible.

These tests are used to diagnose Anal Warts:

• Visual Inspection: A doctor may be able to identify Anal Warts during a physical examination, including by looking at the area with a magnifying glass.
• Cervicography/ Colposcopy: The doctor may use this procedure to get a more detailed view of your anal area, allowing them to diagnose and treat Anal Warts more effectively.
• Anoscopy/ Biopsy: A doctor will take a sample of tissue from the wart and send it to a laboratory for analysis to confirm whether it is an anal wart or some other type of growth.
• HPV DNA Testing: This test can be used to check for the presence of HPV in the area of an anal wart and confirm whether it is caused by HPV or another virus or condition.
• Immunofluorescence Testing: This test uses fluorescent markers that are attached to antibodies that detect proteins on cells in order to determine whether they are benign or cancerous cells present in an anal wart site.
• Pap Smear Test: During this test, one or more samples from the anus are taken and sent for analysis in order to determine if cancerous cells are present in an anal wart site.

These are possible complications of Anal Warts:

• Anal Warts can cause discomfort, itching, and pain.
• They can also cause bleeding during bowel movements and a discharge from the anus.
• In some cases, they can spread to other parts of the body, known as auto-inoculation.
• In rare cases, they may lead to more serious conditions such as genital warts, cervical cancer, or HPV infection of the throat/mouth region.
• If left untreated Anal Warts can increase the risk of anal cancer or HIV infection due to sexual contact with an infected partner.

Here are some home remedies for Anal Warts:

• Take equal amounts of natural Honey and turmeric and make a paste; apply it to affected areas.
• Prepare a mixture of vitamin E oil, aloe vera gel, and tea tree oil; apply daily to areas affected by warts.
• Make a paste of neem leaves, turmeric powder, honey, and lemon juice; apply directly on warts.
• Warm castor oil can be applied directly to Anal Warts 2-3 times daily.
• Prepare a mixture of powdered cinnamon, olive oil, and honey; apply to Anal Warts once or twice daily for relief.

If you have Anal Warts, you should:

• Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods are high in fiber and nutrients that can help boost your immune system and make it easier for you to fight off the virus that causes Anal Warts.
• Get enough protein from lean sources such as eggs, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and tofu. Protein helps boost your immune system so it can better fight off the virus that causes Anal Warts.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated and ward off dehydration-related illnesses like urinary tract infections that could make managing Anal Warts more difficult.

These foods should be avoided if you have Anal Warts:

• Spicy foods: Eating spicy foods may cause irritation and burn in the area, aggravating symptoms of Anal Warts.
• Acidic Foods: Foods that are high in acid, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes, can also irritate the sensitive skin and mucous membranes of the anus, worsening symptoms of Anal Warts.
• Dairy Products: Dairy products should be avoided if you have Anal Warts because they can produce more mucus that could trap bacteria and increase your risk for infection.
• High-Fiber Foods: High-fiber foods may be difficult to pass through the anus due to their bulkiness which can cause pain or itching around the affected area, causing further irritation and redness that can worsen symptoms of Anal Warts.
• Sugary Foods: Excessive consumption of sugary foods may trigger an increase in body heat which can aggravate any skin lesions or lesions around the anus that are caused by an HPV infection causing increased irritation and pain associated with Anal Warts.

Treatment for Anal Warts includes:

• Topical creams: Applying topical medications directly to the affected area is the most common treatment for Anal Warts. These creams may contain ingredients like podophyllotoxin, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, and 5-fluorouracil.
• Immunotherapy: A treatment that boosts the body’s natural immunity in order to fight off the virus that causes warts.
• Cryotherapy: This involves using a cold liquid or an instrument to freeze and remove the warts.
• Laser Therapy: Laser surgery utilizes light energy to destroy tissue in the impacted area without damaging surrounding healthy tissue. It requires several treatments in order to effectively eliminate all of the affected tissues.
• Electrocautery: This procedure uses electric current to burn away Anal Warts tissue, destroying it completely so it can no longer cause harm or return in any form or shape again
• Surgical Excision: The warts are cut away by a surgeon, usually under local anesthesia.

These doctors can be consulted for treating Anal Warts:

• Primary care provider: Primary care providers such as internists or family medicine doctors can evaluate and diagnose Anal Warts and may recommend medications or topical creams to treat them.
• Dermatologist: If your primary care provider is unable to diagnose or treat your condition, then you should consider consulting with a dermatologist who specializes in skin diseases such as Anal Warts. They may perform minor surgical procedures to remove the growths.
• Specialist advice: Infectious disease specialists or colorectal surgeons often have more experience in diagnosing and treating Anal Warts than primary care physicians or dermatologists do, so seeking out their specialized advice might be beneficial for more complicated cases.

These medicines are commonly used to treat Anal Warts:

• Antiviral drugs: These drugs, such as acyclovir and cidofovir, are intended to suppress the virus and reduce the size of any existing warts.
• Immunomodulators: These medications, such as imiquimod and interferon alfa-2b, stimulate or inhibit immune responses and help decrease the size and number of existing warts.
• Antiproliferative Drugs: These drugs work to inhibit the growth of new cells and may be used to cause wart-like lesions on unaffected areas in order to stop future outbreaks in those areas as well. Common examples include podophyllin resin, 5-fluorouracil cream, and TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peels.

Recovery from Anal Warts can take a few weeks to several months depending on the severity of the condition. Factors that affect recovery time include the type of treatment used. Patients who receive treatments such as cryotherapy and laser therapy may experience a quick resolution of symptoms within a few days, however complete healing may take longer. Surgical excision is more involved and typically requires several visits for full recovery.

The results of treatment for Anal Warts are not always permanent. Depending on the severity and type of wart, there is a chance that they may recur after treatment. Additionally, even with successful treatments, the risk of HPV (which causes warts) may remain in the body, leading to the possibility of new warts appearing later on.

Post-treatment follow-up care is an important part of treating Anal Warts.

• It is important for the patient to keep their appointments with the doctor, who can assess whether the treatment has been successful and if further treatment is necessary.
• Depending on the type of surgery, a dressing may be necessary to cover the area after surgery and should be changed regularly according to instructions from a physician or another medical professional.
• The patient should also avoid any intense physical activities that could damage or disrupt the healing in the area, including activities like rigorous exercise or sexual intercourse.
• Antibiotics may be needed if there’s an increased risk of infection due to surgery or another health condition, and antiviral medicines can help reduce pain during recovery as well as reduce symptoms of Anal Warts caused by HPV infections.
• Patients should also practice proper hygiene habits such as washing hands thoroughly before touching any open wounds and avoiding contact with other people who may have Anal Warts until they have completed their recovery period successfully.

• The cost of anal warts treatments in India varies depending on the type of treatment and the severity of warts.
• Generally speaking, treatments such as laser therapy or cryotherapy may cost around Rs 5000-Rs 10,000.
• Creams or ointments may cost around Rs 500-Rs 1500.
• Surgeries may cost anywhere from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 or more depending on the complexity of the procedure.

Common side effects of treatments for Anal Warts include:

• Temporary pain
• Swelling
• Itching
• Discharge.

Other possible complications include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Scarring
• Narrowing of the anus.

Severely infected Anal Warts may require surgery which can lead to further risks such as urinary incontinence or fecal incontinence in some cases.

If you are suffering from any symptoms relating to Anal Warts then you should consult a doctor nearby as they can cause complications like 'bleeding during bowel movements, auto-inoculation, genital warts' in which treatment courses can range from a few months to years depending on the severity of the situation.