Which of the following statements is true?
● HS most commonly occurs in women between the ages of 22 and 40.
● It is rare for HS to occur before puberty.
● It is rare for HS to occur after menopause.
● None of the above are true.
Answer: 4, none of the above are true.
True or False: You should believe everything you read on the internet.
Answer: False (kidding, but seriously, don’t believe everything you read).
There is a vast amount of misinformation circulating on websites and in Facebook groups, and many people take this information as fact, which can be dangerous. The age range of those affected by HS
varies greatly. Often, the “typical” age groups mentioned refer to when people were diagnosed, not when they first started experiencing symptoms. In many cases, it takes years for individuals to receive an
accurate diagnosis. It may also take a considerable amount of time for a patient to seek medical attention, or they may have been misdiagnosed initially.
In North America, more women than men are generally diagnosed with HS, but it’s unclear if
this holds true worldwide. In some Eastern countries, HS affects men at a higher rate than
women. You can read more about HS prevalence in males here. We know that societal and
ethnic factors play a role in who seeks treatment.
As mentioned above, men or certain ethnic groups may not seek treatment as frequently, or at
all for their HS. They may have been misdiagnosed or overlooked. It is widely accepted that
women are more likely to visit a doctor compared to men—not just for hidradenitis suppurativa
but for other health issues as well. Naturally, this leads to a higher percentage of women being
diagnosed. Additionally, women are more likely to speak out and communicate about their
condition, both with each other and publicly, so it may appear that HS affects more women than
men or that certain ethnicities are more commonly afflicted.
We will never know with 100% accuracy how many people suffer from HS. Nor will we know
definitively which gender, race, or age group is more commonly affected due to all the variables at play. When it comes to statistical studies on HS, it’s important to remember that no large-scale, comprehensive global study has yet been conducted on this disease, so none of the available data is entirely accurate. Please participate in any HS surveys or studies when you have the opportunity. Your participation will help ensure that all who suffer from HS are accounted for, and it will contribute to a more accurate understanding of the prevalence of HS worldwide.
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