title: Treatment of primary hyperhidrosis with tap water iontophoresis in paediatric patients: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary hyperhidrosis is an under-recognized condition in children and adolescents. Iontophoresis is the second line of treatment for palmoplantar hyperhidrosis following topical treatment. The studies evaluating the efficacy of iontophoresis in children are limited. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and reliability of tap water iontophoresis in children with primary hyperhidrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients aged under 18 years, who received iontophoresis for primary palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, were included in the study. In our clinic, tap water iontophoresis was administered at regular intervals, starting with five times per week and decreased to once a week on fifth week. Then maintenance sessions once a week for 6 weeks are recommended. The presence of excessive sweating was scored by visual analogue scale (VAS): "0" as continuation of excessive sweating and "10" as the absence of excessive sweating. The demographic and clinical data were collected from files. Also, patients fulfilled a questionnaire for efficacy on follow-up visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen patients completed the whole 21 sessions. The mean VAS score was 5.89 ± 1.49 at the end of the 15th session and 6.36 ± 2.06 at the end of the treatment. Side effects were well tolerated. Only seven patients were still free of excessive sweating on third months after treatment. The mean satisfaction score was 4.95 ± 2.38, as measured by VAS where 0 indicated dissatisfaction and 10 indicated high satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tap water iontophoresis is an effective method of treatment for primary palmoplantar and axillary hyperhidrosis in paediatric patients. But there are still unanswered questions about the mechanism of action, ideal session intervals and protocols for maximum efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and.
authors.forename: Seval
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dogruk Kacar
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ozuguz
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eroglu
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.forename: Semsettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karaca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000628:therapy*; D007478:Iontophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013546:Sweating; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Paediatric dermatology; primary hyperhidrosis; tap water iontophoresis