Hidradenitis suppurativa in children and young adults: a retrospective cross-sectional observational study in the United Kingdom.

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Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in children and young adults (CYA) (<18 years) is uncommon. No previous observational studies have been carried out in a UK CYA HS population. This study was based on retrospective case note reviews of CYA HS patients attending tertiary-level care in the CYA HS service in a UK hospital. Patients <18 years old with a known diagnosis of HS were screened for inclusion. Exclusion criteria were those with less than one follow-up appointment. Twenty-eight CYA HS patients were identified, with an M:F ratio of 1:8.3. Mean BMI was 25.2 (SD: 7.6). 17 (61%) of cases had a relevant family history. Long-term antibiotic monotherapy was the most common treatment initiated. Lymecycline was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic, accounting for 23 (56%) of the 41 courses prescribed. Additional treatments initiated included dual therapy with rifampicin and clindamycin, isotretinoin, and adalimumab, which were more commonly prescribed in patients with Hurley Stage II or III. This group had a female predominance with an apparent strong genetic predisposition which is seen in other HS CYA cross-sectional research. Treatment was varied in this cohort, however long courses of antibiotics, including combined therapy with rifampicin and clindamycin, were the mainstay of treatment, similar to management in the adult population. This study therefore adds to the limited information on the demographics and management of the HS CYA population.