Prescribing Patterns in Pediatric Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory skin condition increasingly diagnosed in pediatric populations; however, data on treatment practices in this group remains limited. In this retrospective study of 163 patients diagnosed with HS ≤ 18 years of age, we found that treatment patterns varied significantly by disease severity. As compared to patients with Hurley stage I (HSI) disease, those with Hurley stage III (HSIII) were more likely to receive: biologics (11.8% versus 58.3%, p < 0.001), chlorhexidine (47.1% versus 75.0%, p = 0.009), intralesional steroid injections (20.0% versus 58.3%, p < 0.001), metformin (3.53% versus 22.2%, p = 0.006), oral steroids (0%, versus 19.4%, p < 0.001), and spironolactone (10.6% versus 38.9%, p = 0.001). Higher Hurley stage was also associated with higher odds of receiving pain management prescriptions (NSAIDs [10.6% HSI versus 26.2% Hurley stage II (HSII) versus 52.8% HSIII; p < 0.001] and opioids [3.6% HSI versus 9.3% HSII versus 31.0% HSIII; p < 0.001]).