Challenges in the Management of Perianal Hidradenitis Suppurativa in an African American Male: A Case Report

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), more commonly known as acne inversa, occurs due to chronic inflammation of the body’s apocrine glands, most commonly affecting areas of the body where there is prolonged skin-on-skin friction. HS affects approximately 4% of the United States population, most commonly women in their second or third decade of life, especially those of African American ethnicity. HS presents as tender subcutaneous nodules which often rupture, leading to the formation of painful dermal abscesses which undergo fibrosis and lead to the formation of extensive sinus tracts, a phenomenon known as “tunneling”. HS is staged clinically using the Hurley staging system, where the stage determines what treatment modalities are used. These modalities can include medical management such as antibiotics, or biologics such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors like adalimumab, as well as surgical options including incision with or without drainage. Due to the similar presentation of HS with other conditions, this disease is commonly misdiagnosed, often leading to delayed treatment initiation and worse outcomes for patients. Presented is a case report of a 30-year-old African American male with perianal HS and the potential long-term complications and challenges of management of this disease.