Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Children and Adolescents: A Review of Treatment Options

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a burdensome disease and has the potential to affect the life course of patients. It is a rare disease in children, and the recorded literature is correspondingly scarce. This article reviews the therapeutic options for HS in children and adolescents, and highlights particular differences or challenges with treating patients in this age group compared with adults. The workup of paediatric patients with HS should include considerations of possible endocrine co-morbidities and obesity. Medical therapy of lesions may include topical clindamycin. Systemic therapy may include analgesics, clindamycin and rifampicin, finasteride, corticosteroids or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) blockers. Superinfections should be appropriately treated. Scarring lesions generally require surgery.