Role of oral zinc sulphate in warts-a placebo controlled,single-blinded study

Verrucae (synonym: warts) are one of the most common viral infections of humans in which the most frequently used modalities of treatment involve destruction of the affected area, which does not prevent recurrences and often results in scarring. In the present study oral zinc sulphate, an immunomodulator was evaluated as a treatment modality for warts. A placebo-controlled, single-blinded study was conducted on one hundred OPD patients with various types of verrucae. Fifty patients were put on oral zinc sulphate at dose of 5mg/kg for six weeks, while an equal number of patients received placebo for the same duration. In the patients who received oral zinc sulphate, 60.97% showed complete response at the end of six weeks in comparison to 6.45% partial response in the placebo group. The resolution of the lesions occurred with restoration of normal epidermal texture with transient alteration in pigmentation.