Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is excessive (unphysiological) sweating. This may be "essential" (i.e., without obvious cause), or seen as a feature of acromegaly, Parkinson’s disease, or occurring in a band above a spinal cord injury. Localized hyperhidrosis caused by food (gustatory sweating) may result from aberrant connections between nerve fibers supplying sweat glands and salivary glands. Other causes of hyperhidrosis include mercury poisoning, phaeochromocytoma, and tetanus. Transient hyperhidrosis contralateral to a large cerebral infarct in the absence of autonomic dysfunction has also been described. Regional syndromes of hyperhidrosis (hands, feet, axillae) are also described.
Treatment is difficult. Symptoms may be helped (but not abolished) by low dose anticholinergic drugs, clonidine or propantheline. For focal syndromes, botulinum toxin injections or sympathectomy may be helpful.

References

Collin J, Whatling P. Treating hyperhidrosis. BMJ 2000; 320: 12211222

Labar DR, Mohr JP, Nichols FT, Tatemichi TK. Unilateral hyperhidrosis after cerebral infarction. Neurology 1988; 38: 1679-1682 Naumann M, Flachenecker P, Brocker EB, Toyka KV, Reiners K. Botulinum toxin for palmar hyperhidrosis. Lancet 1997; 349: 252 Cross References