Idiopathic plantar hidradenitis in a 5-year-old girl after exposure to wet footwear

Abstract

Idiopathic plantar hidradenitis (IPH) is characterised by tender erythematous papules and nodules which involve the soles of the feet. The pathogenesis of this condition remains obscure, with a temporal association between exposure to cold and moisture and the presentation of skin lesions which may allude to a possible pathogenic mechanism.

We report a five-year-old girl who developed plantar hidradenitis. The patient participated in a school outing wherein her feet were exposed to prolonged cold and damp. She complained of pain in the soles of her feet and was unable to walk the next morning. She was admitted to hospital with a suspicion of infection and discharged the next morning on oral antibiotics. Review by dermatology raised the possibility of plantar hidradenitis and a course of low dose oral steroids was given. The patient recovered fully in five days.

Familiarity with the inciting tiggers and symptoms of IPH in children allows a clinical diagnosis to be made without the need for hospitalization and further investigations. The authors believe that the instigating factors in our patient were prolonged exposure to wet footwear combined with strenuous activity. Further studies are needed to determine the aetiology of IPH.