Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Children and Adolescents: An Update on Pharmacologic Treatment Options

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin condition that manifests as painful, deep-seated, inflamed nodules and abscesses in the axillary, groin, perianal, perineal, and inframammary regions. The associated pain, malodour, and disfigurement contribute to its profound negative impact on psychosocial spheres and overall quality of life in affected individuals. Although the symptoms of HS classically begin in the second or third decade of life, HS affects children and adolescents as well. Despite this, there are limited pediatric data on treatment, which are largely based on expert opinion, extrapolation of efficacy data in adults with HS, and safety information from medication use in other pediatric diseases. On this basis, there exist several pharmacological modalities in the treatment of children and adolescents with HS including topical therapies, systemic therapies, and biologics. The goals of this review article are to: (1) review the efficacy of different pharmacological treatment modalities in children and adolescents with HS, and (2) review the safety and monitoring considerations of the different treatment options in children and adolescents with HS.