What is Hydrocentitis Superativa?Anyone ever heard of this disease?

Question

I need some to know if there is anyone out there that has heard of it or knows of anyone currently suffering from it.Also, are there any support groups or websites that might offer some help, or any research being done.This disease affects my daughter who has had it since she was 14 years old.I can best describe it as a glandular staph infection, that literally tunnels through the glands, first under the armpits & later, through the groin area. there is no cure, but we have been told that it can be "managed", like diabetes! Surgery is of no help either... I would be so grateful for any information anyone has on this debilitating disease.

Crystal...sorry about the spelling, I wasn't sure exactly, but these symptoms are what she has experienced for the last 16 years!

Answer 1

hello ... i dont know if the condition your daughter has is the same as ... hidradenitis suppurativa both conditions have the same symtoms.. i think we are talkin about the same one... this is what i was able to fine out..and things i ask around here at the hospital....

Hidradenitis suppurativa is an annoying chronic condition characterized by swollen, painful, inflamed lesions in the axillae, groin, and other parts of the body that contain apocrine glands. The disease is a chronic acneiform infection of the cutaneous apocrine glands that also can involve adjacent subcutaneous tissue and fascia. The hallmark of the disease is sinus tracts (which can become draining fistulas) in the apocrine gland body areas. Velpeau first described the condition in 1839.

Pathophysiology: The condition has classically been thought to occur when apocrine gland outlets become blocked by perspiration or are unable to drain normally because of incomplete gland development. Secretions trapped in the glands force perspiration and bacteria into surrounding tissue, causing subcutaneous induration, inflammation, and infection. However, more recent studies have indicated that hidradenitis suppurativa is caused by follicular occlusion first, which, in turn, occludes the apocrine glands and causes perifolliculitis. Therefore, it is actually a disorder of the terminal follicular epithelium located in the apocrine gland-bearing skin areas, which may better be termed as acne inversa.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is confined to areas of the body that contain apocrine glands. These areas are the axillae, areola of the nipple, groin, perineum, circumanal, and periumbilical regions.

Often, patients with hidradenitis suppurativa also are afflicted with acne, pilonidal cysts, and chronic scalp folliculitis; thus, giving rise to the term follicular occlusion tetrad.

Mortality/Morbidity: Hidradenitis suppurativa is painful and can be disabling but is rarely fatal, except when it progresses to overwhelming systemic infection in an immunocompromised patient. Extensive disease can prevent patients from performing normal work functions and from engaging in normal social activities. In some patients, especially those with severe disease, the condition creates significant psychological problems, particularly regarding sexual relationships.

Race: Ingrown hairs are a predisposing factor, thus an increased incidence of the disease occurs in patients with tightly curled hair.

Sex: The incidence of hidradenitis suppurativa is greater in females than in males, thought to be in the range of 4:1 or 5:1. Flare-ups have been associated with menses, with a higher incidence in females with shorter cycles and more days of bleeding during the period.

Age: Hidradenitis suppurativa does not present prior to puberty because the apocrine glands are inactive until triggered by a surge in sex hormones. The condition may be observed in patients of any age after puberty.


History: The most common presentation is that of painful, tender, firm, nodular lesions under the arms.

The nodules may open and drain pus spontaneously. Nodules will heal slowly, with or without drainage, over 10-30 days.
In typical cases, nodules recur at least several times yearly.
In severe cases, the patient may suffer a constant succession of new lesions forming as soon as old lesions heal.
Excessive heat, perspiration, tight clothing, and obesity seem to aggravate the condition. Studies also show that cigarette smoking is a precipitator of the condition.
Remissions may last months or years.
Physical:

The patient may present in considerable pain, with multiple red, hard, raised nodules in areas where apocrine glands are concentrated.
Affected areas may include the axillae, periareolar, intermammary zones, pubic area, infraumbilical midline, gluteal folds, genitofemoral areas (top of the thighs in genital area), and the perianal region.
As suppuration progresses, surrounding cellulitis may be present. Chronic recurrences result in palpable thick sinus tracts under the skin, which may turn into draining fistulas.
The patient may present with a chronic condition in which the multiple nodules have coalesced and are surrounded by a fibrous reaction. This results in scarred and unsightly appearance of the area.
Hidradenitis suppurativa may resemble recurrent bacterial folliculitis and furunculosis.
Causes:

A genetic predisposition to hidradenitis suppurativa likely exists, with one study noting that 38% of patients had a relative with hidradenitis.
Excessive perspiration, often observed in athletes and the obese, may contribute to clogging of the apocrine glands.
Disease activity may be related to stress and to cigarette smoking.
Hidradenitis may be observed as a primary condition without any obvious cause, but it may be observed in association with the following conditions:
Crohn disease
Irritable bowel syndrome
Down syndrome
Certain forms of arthritis
Graves disease or Hashimoto thyroiditis
Sjögren syndrome
Herpes simplex

Tetracycline and erythromycin may be helpful on a long-term basis, and cephalosporins often will help in acute cellulitis. On a short-term basis in the emergency department, dicloxacillin is considered a good choice. However, consideration must be given to using a sulfonamide or clindamycin antibiotic because of the growing presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for both short-term and long-term treatment. Topical products, such as benzoyl peroxide, may be helpful. Topical and intralesional injections of corticosteroids are sometimes helpful.

Topical clindamycin cream has also been used with some success. Retin-A has rarely been found to be helpful in some patients. Systemic retinoids (Accutane) can reduce the severity of attacks in some patients but is not a reliable cure for hidradenitis suppurativa. Accutane cannot be prescribed in the emergency department due to requirements set forth by the pharmaceutical company. Hormonal manipulation (eg, certain oral contraceptives) has been useful for some patients but is unlikely to be prescribed from the emergency department.


Drug Category: Antibiotics -- Therapy must cover all likely pathogens in the context of the clinical setting. In recurrent disease, antibiotics may be administered for 2 or more months.

good luck... to u and your daughter....

Answer 2

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or in layman's terms: a Broken Heart. A disease that takes hold which weakens the heart muscles, triggered by extreme extreme emotional stress such as the death of a loved one.

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

I had it, and was lucky to have it successfully treated with Acutane (which may have awful side effects, but did work wonderfully with me).

It also may be related to insuline resistance and PCOS, and may respond to certain hormone balancing treatments.