Warts and Small Office

Dear Sir or Madam:

We have an individual in a small office that has had warts on her hands for a year and a half. She was having them treated, but she was always picking at them at work. She did not always wear band aids to cover them up.

About a month and a half ago, I got a wart in my nose. The doctor had to burn it off. It is a very painful and tramatic procedure to go through. I went back yesterday and she found another wart that had to be burned.

After the first procedure, I asked my administrator to ask that my coworker wear gloves to prevent the possibliity of speading the infection even further. She refused.  After yesterday, I received a written note from my doctor stating that I should work from home until my coworker could clear up her problem.

My employer has stated that she is getting a note from my coworkers determologist stating that she is being "properly treated" and therefore, there is no reason that I cannot return to work. She stated that I would have to go see a determologist to get a note stating that the warts are contagious and I should be allowed to work from home;  according to my boss, the note from my coworkers determologist superseeds my doctors (general practioner) note and that my note is not enough.

My contention is that my coworker is using the same restroom, kitchen, door knobs, etc. that we must use. Am I justified to ask that she wear gloves? I know that it is possible to catch the virus that causes these warts and I do not want to have to go through this painful procedure anymore. What is the answer? Do I just go back to work and stay in an environment that has already proven to be unsafe?

MO

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Warts are tumours or growths of the skin caused by infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV).They are contagious when in contact with the skin of an infected person. It is also possible to get warts from using towels or other objects used by an infected person.

Moreover there is no permanent cure for HPV and it lies dormant in the cells even if the person is not showing any symptoms.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.