A pilonidal sinus (PNS) is a small hole or tunnel in the skin. It may fill with fluid or pus, causing the formation of a cyst or abscess. It occurs in the cleft at the top of the buttocks. A pilonidal cyst usually contains hair, dirt, and debris. It can cause severe pain and can often become infected. If it becomes infected, it may ooze pus and blood and have a foul odor.
A PNS is a condition that mostly affects men and is also common in young adults. It’s also more common in people who sit a lot, like cab drivers, truck drivers etc
The exact cause of this condition isn’t known, but its cause is believed to be a combination of changing hormones (because it occurs after puberty), hair growth, and friction from clothes or from spending a long time sitting.
The signs of an infection include:
Pain when sitting or standing
Swelling at the natal cleft ( low back region between buttocks)
Reddened, sore skin around the area
Pus or blood draining from the abscess, causing a foul odor
A low-grade fever, but this is much less common
Surgical treatment is the mainstay for permanent cure of the disease, medical treatment in the form of broad-spectrum antibiotics and analgesics may be needed in the acute phase to control infection and relieve pain. Once the infection is controlled surgery should be performed for a complete cure. Different surgical procedures have been described but the principle of surgery remains wide and complete excision of the sinus and its tracts
