Pediatric HS Preventive Measures Should Target Obesity, Smoking

While pediatric patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) experience similar disease symptoms and course as adult patients, preventive measures should focus on obesity and smoking according to a study published in Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of data regarding patient demographics, disease characteristics, onset of disease, comorbidities, and treatment for pediatric patients with HS. A national HS registry was used to obtain comparison data of a reference population.

Analysis included 71 patients younger than 18 years (mean age, 15.3 years) with mild to moderate HS. The most common treatments were clindamycin-based and zinc-sulphate-based combination therapies.

Compared with the reference population, the pediatric patient population had higher incidence of smoking and obesity. Older age at baseline and higher body mass index were both associated with moderate to severe HS. Further, sebaceous-follicular comorbidities were also associated with cigarette smoking.

The authors concluded that dermatologists and other providers should focus preventive measures on obesity and smoking in pediatric patients with HS.

Reference
Garcovich S, Fania L, Caposiena D, et al. Pediatric hidradenitis suppurativa: a cross-sectional study on clinical features and treatment approaches. J Cutan Med Surg. Published online October 6, 2021. doi:10.1177/12034754211039993