Warts: does the duct tape theory stick?

Journal of Family Practice, Feb, 2007

* Clinical question

Is duct tape effective for warts in children?

* Bottom line

This underpowered study found duct tape no move effective than corn pads. (LOE: 2b)

Study design Randomized controlled trial (single-blinded)

Funding Unknown/not stated

Allocation Concealed

Setting Outpatient (any)

* Synopsis

103 children (4 to 12 years) were randomized to duct tape or placebo (corn pads). Tape was left on 7 days, followed by removal, soaking in warm water, and rubbing with pumice stone; this was repeated 6 times over 6 weeks. The corn pad was placed overnight, with once-weekly soaks and pumice rubs. Assessment was blinded. The wart disappeared in 16% of the treatment group and 6% of the placebo group. This difference had a 12% probability of being chance, but the power to detect the difference was under 30%. If it wasn't chance, one would need to treat 10 children with duct tape for 6 weeks to remove 1 wart. In 81%, the duct tape would not stick; 32% used extra fixative. A small, flawed study (Arch Pediatr Adol Med 2002; 156:975-977) found duct tape as effective as cryotherapy.

de Haen M, Spigt MG, van Uden CJ, van Neer P, Feron FJ, Knottnerus A. Efficacy of duct tape vs placebo in the treatment of verruca vulgaris (warts) in primary school children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006; 160:1121-1125.