Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Emergency Medicine Workup

  • Author: Diana Fite, MD, FACEP; Chief Editor: Rick Kulkarni, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 3, 2012
 

Laboratory Studies

  • Culture of any exudate obtained (if aspiration or drainage of larger nodules is necessary) will yield a variety of saprophytic and pathogenic bacteria with a preponderance of staphylococci and streptococci.
  • Thyroid function studies may be useful if clinically indicated because an association with Graves disease or Hashimoto thyroiditis may occasionally occur.
  • If a patient appears toxic or is febrile, laboratory tests should include the following:
    • CBC
    • Blood cultures
    • Culture of exudate
    • Routine chemistries
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Procedures

  • Incision and drainage may be helpful for large, painful, fluctuant nodules that have not opened spontaneously.
  • Most nodules will resolve even without drainage.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Diana Fite, MD, FACEP  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Hermann Hospital

Diana Fite, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Women Emergency Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Robert M McNamara, MD, FAAEM  Chair and Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine

Robert M McNamara, MD, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Medical Association, Pennsylvania Medical Society, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Mark W Fourre, MD  Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Maine Medical Center; Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Vermont School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Rick Kulkarni, MD  Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Rick Kulkarni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: WebMD Salary Employment

References

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