The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    Duct tape to treat warts?

    Several years ago duct tape became popular as a treatment for warts (Verruca vulgaris) after it was reported that complete resolution occurred in 85% of patients treated with duct tape vs 60% of those treated with cryosurgery.

    Now, another study disputes the value of duct tape.

    When compared to placebo treatment in children aged 4 to 12 years with warts, six weeks of nightly treatments using duct tape stuck to the wart had no effect on healing.

    The researchers in the latest study have no explanation for the differences in response. The treatment routines were not exactly the same, but the difference between an 85% response in the first study and a 16% response in the latest study is awfully large. Placebo treatment had a 6% total healing rate.

    In children it appears that duct tape is not a reliable treatment for warts. If they are large and bothersome, see a doctor for a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan.

    de Haen et al. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160:1121-1125.

    12/26/06 20:41 JR

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