Hallock KK, Mizerak MR, Dempsey A, et al. - According to this retrospective cohort study, pediatric patients seek high-cost emergency department (ED) care when hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) can often be treated as an outpatient. Such findings suggest that nondermatologists and dermatologists have an opportunity to improve their recognition of HS in pediatric patients.

• This study enrolled 8,727 people, 1,094 of whom were children and 7,633 of whom were adults.

• Pediatric patients were more likely to see pediatricians, dermatologists, ED personnel, and family physicians before receiving a diagnosis of folliculitis or comedones.

• Comorbid skin and general medical conditions, such as acne vulgaris, acne conglobata, obesity, and anxiety disorders, were common in pediatric patients with HS.

• Pediatric patients had a higher percentage of HS-specific claims than adult patients for services rendered by emergency and urgent care physicians.

• Adult patients, on the other hand, were more likely to require inpatient care.

• Adults had 3.5 claims per person, while pediatric patients had 2.24 claims per person.

• The average cost per ED claim was comparable across groups.

• The cost of inpatient visits for pediatric and adult patients with HS was the largest component of the total 5-year disease-specific cost.