Diagnostics

To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to obtain a full case history and to thoroughly examine patients. It is important to eliminate any possible underlying disease which would provoke increased sweating.

While examining patients, it is important to determine the state of their clothes and sweat stains on them. The size of stains on clothes can indicate the degree of hyperhidrosis in the area of armpits. In particular, sweat stains up to 5 cm across diameter may be observed under a little physical activity. They are normal.

Mild hyperhidrosis is characterized by sweat stains up to 10 cm across diameter. Sweat stains up to 20 сm2 are peculiar to moderate hyperhidrosis, while stains over 20 сm2 are common in severe hyperhidrosis.

Mild palmar hyperhidrosis declares itself with wet palm surface without visible sweat drops. In moderate hyperhidrosis sweat spreads towards finger-tips with visible drops, and in the severe one it streams throughout palms.

— Special Tests to Assess Qualitative and Quantitative Sweating

• 1.Gravimetric Method

  There are special tests to assess qualitative and quantitative sweating. One of the qualitative methods of sweating assessment is a gravimetric one.

• 2. Minor’s Test

  Minor’s test gives the opportunity to determine the size and to some extent the intensity of hyperhidrosis.

• 3. Chromatographic Method

  It is a non-invasive method of primary hyperhidrosis diagnostics which allows determining the spectrum of unsaturated fatty acids in patients’ sweat.