[Primary hyperhidrosis: prospective study in 338 patients].

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this report is to study the clinical aspects of the patients with primary hyperhidrosis (PH) and the social and occupational distressing condition.

METHODS

From January 1998 to October 2002, 338 patients with PH completed a preoperative questionnaire to register: age, gender, profession, associated diseases, familiar hyperhidrosis history, sweating location, associated dermatological lesions and social embarrassesment. 179 patients were asked about their general symptomatology.

RESULTS

In 86% of the patients PH started during infancy, 71.5% were female (mean age 28.8 years). A few patients had others diseases and 42.5% had some associated dermatological lesions. In 47.9% of the patients there is family history of PH. 96.4% reported palmar hyperhidrosis, 80.7% plantar PH and 71.3% reported axillary PH, being less frequent in others regions of the body. The most frequent clinical founding associated is facial blushing in 60.3%, 52.3% heart palpitations, 48% muscle stress, 31.8% reported trembling of the hands and 30,8% headache. In reference to social embarrassesment, we observe that relations between friends and professional environment are the most problematic situation.

CONCLUSIONS

PH is a pathologic condition starting in infancy, family history of PH is frequent and most patients have some associated dermatological lesions. Excessive sweating is especially common in palms but no exclusively of this region as it extends to others regions with the same intensity. It can be associated with symptomatology suggestive of hyperexcitability of the sympathetic activity like facial blushing, trembling or headache, symptoms difficult to consider whether they are cause or consequence.