多汗症在全球范围内的发病率为 2% ~ 4%,没有明显的性别倾向。[1]Shargall Y, Spratt E, Zeldin RA. Hyperhidrosis: what is it and why does it occur? Thorac Surg Clin. 2008;18:125-132.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18557586?tool=bestpractice.com[2]Strutton DR, Kowalski JW, Glaser DA, et al. US prevalence of hyperhidrosis and impact on individuals with axillary hyperhidrosis: results from a national survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;51:241-248.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15280843?tool=bestpractice.com全球差异较为明显。一项研究估计美国的多汗症发病率为 2.9%,这些患者当中约半数 (1.4%) 为腋下型。[2]Strutton DR, Kowalski JW, Glaser DA, et al. US prevalence of hyperhidrosis and impact on individuals with axillary hyperhidrosis: results from a national survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;51:241-248.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15280843?tool=bestpractice.com在亚洲人中,手掌多汗症的发病率奇高,在中国某些地区发病率达 5%。[3]Tu YR, Li X, Lin M, et al. Epidemiological survey of primary palmar hyperhidrosis in adolescent in Fuzhou of People's Republic of China. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2007;31:737-739.http://ejcts.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/4/737.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17314049?tool=bestpractice.com约 50% 的手掌多汗症患者有该病的家族病史。
原发性多汗症通常有两个发病高峰期:幼童时期和青春期。[1]Shargall Y, Spratt E, Zeldin RA. Hyperhidrosis: what is it and why does it occur? Thorac Surg Clin. 2008;18:125-132.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18557586?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Solish N, Wang R, Murray CA. Evaluating the patient presenting with hyperhidrosis. Thorac Surg Clin. 2008;18:133-140.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18557587?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Baumgartner FJ, Bertin S, Konecny J. Superiority of thoracoscopic sympathectomy over medical management for the palmoplantar subset of severe hyperhidrosis. Ann Vasc Surg. 2009;23:1-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18619780?tool=bestpractice.com
在接受外科手术的严重多汗症患者中,大多数有掌跖多汗症,15% ~ 20% 有合并型掌-腋多汗症,5% ~ 10% 有孤立性腋下多汗症,少于 5%的有头面多汗症。[6]Eisenach JH, Atkinson JL, Fealey RD. Hyperhidrosis: evolving therapies for a well-established phenomenon. Mayo Clin Proc. 2005;80:657-666.http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)63098-X/fulltexthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15887434?tool=bestpractice.com