Epidemio-clinical, etiological, therapeutic and evolutive profile of hyperhidrosis: Moroccan experience

Abstract

Sir,Hyperhidrosis (HH) is an excessive production of sweat which is responsible for aesthetic and social discomfort with a major impact on the quality of life and an increased frequency of infectious complications [1,2]. Despite its relative rarity, it is sometimes a diagnostic and therapeutic puzzle for the dermatologist. We present this prospective descriptive study, conducted over a period of 12 months (June 2017-May 2018), within the dermatology-venereology department of the Mohammed V military training hospital, according to a pre-established operating file. 21 cases were reported, including 65% of women and 35% of men, age of patients ranged between 13 and 44 years with an average of 27.41 years, 59% were of average social class and 41% of class social low. 94% of HH were localized, 6% were generalized and no case of regional HH. The most frequent locations were: 65% palmar, 35% axillary and 29% plantar ( Fig. 1). 80% of patients had HH that started with puberty, 41% had an anxiety state and 35% had family cases. The severity according to the HDSS score was: level I 0%, level II 35%, level III 41% and level IV 23%. The treatments used were antiperspirants 65%, Ionophoresis 29%, Oxybutynin 35%, Botulinum toxin 41% and thoracic sympathectomy 23%. The effectiveness of treatments ranged from none to 100% with an average of 64%, the most effective treatments were botulinum toxin and thoracic sympathectomy, the least effective treatments were antiperspirants and Oxybutynin, while ionophoresis is in the intermediate zone. Patient satisfaction ranged from 3/10 to 10/10 with an average of 7.17/10. Tolerance of treatments ranged from 7/10 to 10/10 with an average of 8.7/10. The side effects found were compensatory body sweating following thoracic sympathectomy in one patient.HH in our context is characterized by: young age of onset, female predominance, prevalence of localized forms, frequency of familial forms, frequency of moderate to severe forms, ineffectiveness of antiperspirants and Oxybutynin, the efficacy of botulinum toxin and sympathectomy, a very good satisfaction and tolerance and the scarcity of side effects. HH profoundly impacts the psychic state of particularly young and adolescent patients [1][2][3][4][5]. The mild forms can be managed by antiperspirants, Oxybutynin and iontophoresis while Letter to the Editor Epidemio-clinical, etiological, therapeutic and Epidemio-clinical, etiological, therapeutic and evolutive profi le of hyperhidrosis: Moroccan evolutive profi le of hyperhidrosis: Moroccan experience experience