Anogenital warts in Northern Nigeria: A ten-year Review

BACKGROUND: Anogenital warts are a common cause of morbidity affecting mainly the productive age group of the economy. Paucity of data in Nigeria necessitated this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pathology records of anogenital warts diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria between 1(st) January 2000 and 31(st) December 2009 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 68 warts were diagnosed within the study period with anogenital warts constituting 39.7%. Majority of cases (62%) were in the 20-39 years age group (range: 5–50 years) and vulva was the most common site affected. CONCLUSION: Genital warts are common in our environment, biopsy of suspicious lesions is recommended for diagnostic yield.