Abstract
Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic debilitating skin disease with a diagnostic delay of 7 years. The general practitioner (GP) is often the first physician consulted by the HS patients, and often provide the initial treatment. Early diagnosis by GP is of major importance and may help to better control the course of the disease. Aim: To describe GP’s recognition and management of HS. Methods: GPs in Belgium and Denmark were invited to complete a questionnaire constructed to describe general knowledge about HS. Results: 103 Belgian and 51 Danish participated. Demographic characteristics were similar in both groups. Danish GPs estimated the disease to be more common: 0%/21.6% Belgian/Danish GPs seeing more than 20 patients with HS per week and conversely 28.2%/3.9% seeing no patients with HS per week. Belgian GPs were less likely to consider HS a chronic disease than the Danish GPs (41.7%/84.3%), and antibiotics were more commonly associated with HS by Danish GPs (31.4% versus 3.9%). Interestingly, Belgian and Danish GPs consider HS as an inflammatory (respectively 44.7%/58.8%) but also as an infectious disease (respectively 62.1%/64.7%). Conclusions: The early diagnosis and a correct management is a crucial step to improve the prognosis of the disease. This pilot study has attempted to assess the general knowledge about HS of Belgian and Danish GPs. Important differences have appeared, suggesting a need for more information to facilitate the management of the patients. A multidisciplinary approach is suggested for the management of this often debilitating disease. Our pilot study evaluates for the first time the knowledge of GPs about Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Unfortunately the disease is often misdiagnosed and we have reported a mean diagnosis delay of 7 years. An early diagnosis by GPs could greatly improve the course and the management of the disease.
Highlights
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent, debilitating follicular skin disease that usually presents after puberty with painful, deep-seated, inflamed lesions in the apocrine gland-bearing areas of the body, most commonly the axillary, inguinal and anogenital region (Dessau definition, first International Conference on Hidradenitis suppurativa, March 30-April 1, 2006, Dessau, Germany).The inflammatory nodules can progress to abscesses and mucopurulent discharge, with hypertrophic scarring and sinus tract formation in the late stages of the disease
Danish general practitioner (GP) estimated the disease to be more common. 0%/21.6% Belgian/Danish GPs seeing more than 20 patients with HS per week and 28.2%/3.9% seeing no patients with HS per week
Belgian GPs were less likely to consider HS a chronic disease than the Danish GPs (41.7%/84.3%), and antibiotics were more commonly associated with HS by Danish GPs (31.4% versus 3.9%)
Summary
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent, debilitating follicular skin disease that usually presents after puberty with painful, deep-seated, inflamed lesions in the apocrine gland-bearing areas of the body, most commonly the axillary, inguinal and anogenital region (Dessau definition, first International Conference on Hidradenitis suppurativa, March 30-April 1, 2006, Dessau, Germany).The inflammatory nodules can progress to abscesses and mucopurulent discharge, with hypertrophic scarring and sinus tract formation in the late stages of the disease. Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, recurrent, debilitating follicular skin disease that usually presents after puberty with painful, deep-seated, inflamed lesions in the apocrine gland-bearing areas of the body, most commonly the axillary, inguinal and anogenital region (Dessau definition, first International Conference on Hidradenitis suppurativa, March 30-April 1, 2006, Dessau, Germany). HS is histologically characterized by chronic follicular hyperkeratosis and its pathophysiology is not yet fully understood, but it likely includes an interaction between a complex genetic background and the effect of external factors [3]. HS has been considered to be a rare disorder but European studies based on population samples using validated questionnaires have suggested a prevalence of 1%-2% in the general population and a peak prevalence of 4% (including mild cases) among young adults [4,5,6,7,8]. Diagnosis by GP is of major importance and may help to better control the course of the disease
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
