A pilonidal cyst is a cavity under the skin that extends across the tailbone. Pilonidal literally means “hair nest” since the hollow is often discovered to contain hair. According to research, it is an acquired illness caused by the impaction of debris and hair into the midline hair follicles, which burst and transmit infection under the skin. This condition is not hereditary. Get Pilonidal Sinus Treatment in Punjabi Bagh by Dr. Sukhvinder Singh Saggu.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Some persons have no symptoms, thus no therapy is required. Occasionally, pus accumulates in the cyst, causing pain and swelling in the tailbone area to form (abscess). When this happens, a patient will develop a fever as well as severe discomfort and swelling in the tailbone region. Others may develop low-grade infections characterized by milder, recurring episodes of pain and swelling.
Pilonidal Cyst Symptoms
Pilonidal cysts often appear as pimples, however they may come in a range of sizes and shapes. Infection in a pilonidal cyst may cause the following symptoms:
Inflammation, discomfort, redness, and swelling are all symptoms of a bacterial infection.
Pus or blood drainage from the affected area
An unpleasant odor associated with pus
Fever
Who is affected?
This problem is especially prevalent in young adults and teens. This disorder is uncommon in persons beyond the age of 40. It affects males three times more than women.
Pilonidal Cyst Treatment
A pilonidal cyst that has become infected may be treated in a variety of ways. Antibiotics by themselves are unsuccessful in sealing the nasal tract. Pain may be relieved by over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. Hot, wet compresses used directly to the cyst many times each day may alleviate discomfort by encouraging drainage.
The only option to fully remove pilonidal cysts is via treatments that permanently remove the sinus tract. Lancing and draining the contaminated region is one example of a minor surgical technique. The problematic hair and follicles are removed during this treatment, and the wound is left open and wrapped with sterile gauze. The resulting wound will take about three weeks to heal, and the dressing must be changed regularly in the interim.
Endoscopic pilonidal sinus ablation is a minimally invasive, non-scarring surgery that includes irrigating the sinus, removing hair and debris, and then cauterizing the aperture. In terms of recovery time, this is a better option than more intrusive procedures.
In situations of recurrence, a pilonidal cystectomy is suggested. The cyst and pilonidal sinus tracts are fully removed during this operation, which is conducted under general anesthesia on the patient. A cystectomy will take one to three months to recover completely, with routine activities resuming within two to four weeks. The recurrence rate for pilonidal cysts is roughly 30%, which emphasizes the need for prophylactic measures.