Touching a toad gives you warts
| Touching a toad gives you warts | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "If you touch or hold a toad or frog, you will get warts." | |
| Domain | Health & Medicine |
| Tactic | Fabrication |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | Centuries old |
| Origin | European folklore, passed down to children |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-30 |
| Further reading: books on Health & Medicine | |
Children are often told not to pick up toads because they will catch warts. The idea is old and probably comes from the bumpy look of toads' skin.
What the evidence shows
- Cause of warts. Human warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which spreads between people through skin contact or shared surfaces. Toads do not carry it.
- The bumps. A toad's bumps are skin glands. Some, especially the large glands behind the eyes, release substances that can irritate the eyes and mouth or sicken a pet that bites the toad.
- Good advice. Children should wash their hands after handling any amphibian, both to protect themselves and because frogs and toads can carry salmonella.
Why it matters
The warning has a real basis in handwashing, but the wrong reason. Children can learn both facts at once.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology Association, "Warts: Who gets and causes."
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Reptiles, Amphibians, and Salmonella."
- Library of Congress, "Can you get warts from touching a toad?" Everyday Mysteries.