Hyperhidrosis: prevalence and impact on quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis in the city of Botucatu, Brazil, and to evaluate how this disorder affects the quality of life in those suffering from it. METHODS: A population survey was conducted in order to identify cases of hyperhidrosis among residents in the urban area of the city, selected by systematic cluster sampling. In accordance with the census maps of the city, the sample size should be at least 4,033 participants. Ten interviewers applied a questionnaire that evaluated the presence of excessive sweating and invited the subjects who reported hyperhidrosis to be evaluated by a physician in order to confirm the diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 4,133 residents, in 1,351 households, were surveyed. Excessive sweating was reported by 85 residents (prevalence = 2.07%), of whom 51 (60%) were female. Of those 85 respondents, 51 (60%) agreed to undergo medical evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and only 23 (45%) were diagnosed with primary hyperhidrosis (prevalence = 0.93%). Of the 23 subjects diagnosed with primary hyperhidrosis, 11 (48%) reported poor or very poor quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of self-reported excessive sweating was greater than 2%, the actual prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis in our sample was 0.93% and nearly 50% of the respondents with primary hyperhidrosis reported impaired quality of life.

Hyperhidrosis: prevalence and impact on quality of life / Hiperidrose: prevalência e impacto na qualidade de vida

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis in the city of Botucatu, Brazil, and to evaluate how this disorder affects the quality of life in those suffering from it. Methods: A population survey was conducted in order to identify cases of hyperhidrosis among residents in the urban area of the city, selected by systematic cluster sampling. In accordance with the census maps of the city, the sample size should be at least 4,033 participants. Ten interviewers applied a questionnaire that evaluated the presence of excessive sweating and invited the subjects who reported hyperhidrosis to be evaluated by a physician in order to confirm the diagnosis. Results: A total of 4,133 residents, in 1,351 households, were surveyed. Excessive sweating was reported by 85 residents (prevalence = 2.07%), of whom 51 (60%) were female. Of those 85 respondents, 51 (60%) agreed to undergo medical evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and only 23 (45%) were diagnosed with primary hyperhidrosis (prevalence = 0.93%). Of the 23 subjects diagnosed with primary hyperhidrosis, 11 (48%) reported poor or very poor quality of life. Conclusions: Although the prevalence of self-reported excessive sweating was greater than 2%, the actual prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis in our sample was 0.93% and nearly 50% of the respondents with primary hyperhidrosis reported impaired quality of life.

RESUMO Objetivo: Estabelecer a prevalência de hiperidrose primária no município de Botucatu (SP) e avaliar como o transtorno afeta a qualidade de vida dos seus portadores. Métodos: Foi realizado um levantamento populacional para identificar os casos de hiperidrose em moradores da região urbana da cidade, selecionados por amostragem sistemática de conglomerados. O número amostral de 4.033 participantes foi calculado usando os mapas censitários do município. Dez entrevistadores aplicaram um questionário que avaliou a presença de transpiração excessiva e convidaram os sujeitos que referiram hiperidrose para uma entrevista com um médico para a confirmação do diagnóstico. Resultados: Foram pesquisados 1.351 domicílios, com 4.133 moradores. Desses, 85 queixaram-se de sudorese excessiva (prevalência = 2,07%), sendo 51 (60%) do gênero feminino. Dos 85 indivíduos, 51 (60%) concordaram receber avaliação médica para confirmar o diagnóstico, e apenas 23 (45%) apresentaram hiperidrose primária (prevalência = 0,93%). Dos 23 indivíduos diagnosticados com hiperidrose primária, 11 (48%) referiram qualidade de vida ruim ou muito ruim. Conclusões: Embora as queixas de transpiração excessiva tenham sido superiores a 2%, a prevalência real de hiperidrose primária em nossa amostra foi de 0,93% e o distúrbio afetava a qualidade de vida em quase 50% dos indivíduos.

Paracoccidioidomycosis in Brazilian Patients With and Without Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is endemic to Latin America, where 10 million people may be infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis/Paracoccidioides lutzii and 1,600,000 individuals live with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. An epidemiological overlapping of these infections occurred early in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome era with nearly 180 published cases. This study presents epidemiological, clinical, and outcome profiles for 31 PCM patients with HIV infection diagnosed in a teaching hospital in Brazil, and includes an update of previously reported cases. Medical records were reviewed and data compared with 64 PCM patients without HIV infection. Of the 31 PCM patients with HIV infection, 23 (74.1%) were male, with a median age of 36.7 years, whereas of the 64 PCM, 45 (70.3%) were male, with a median age of 35.1 years. Both groups presented similar proportions for smoking and alcoholism. PCM patients with HIV infection presented more fever, weight loss, and the acute clinical form than the PCM patients who had more mucosal and respiratory involvement characterizing the chronic form. Most PCM patients with HIV infection exhibited overlapping symptoms from both clinical forms with median symptom duration of 4.5 months compared with 8.3 months for the PCM control. Patients received sulfonamides and/or itraconazole for a median of 15.7 and 16.7 months for PCM/HIV-infected and PCM, respectively. Relapses occurred more in PCM (12 [30%]) than PCM/HIV-infected (4 [14.8%]) patients, whose mortality rate was higher (10 [32.8%]) than PCM patients (8 [20%]). The cases of PCM/HIV infection confirm that HIV can interact with some endemic diseases without increasing their frequency, while changing their natural history, clinical presentation, and outcome. The data presented here are in agreement with those observed in other studies.