Do You Have A Pilonidal Cyst Infection?
Pilonidal disease is an umbrella term that takes into account all pilonidal pathologies. Let’s understand them all in the right sequence. So pilonidal disease predominantly affects men, especially those men who are very hairy and obese. This is not very uncommon, you see, thus making pilonidal cyst infection a very common entity. Further, those men should either be involved in jobs demanding prolonged hours of sitting, or they tend to lead sedentary lifestyles.
Either way, the disease starts with hair getting forced and trapped into the skin of the buttock crease. This is followed by an inflammatory reaction inside the skin aimed at removing the trapped hair from the skin. This inflammation and the subsequent cyst formation marks the beginning of the disease. The pilonidal cyst causes immense pain to an individual.
If left untreated, the disease progresses to a pilonidal abscess. This is characterized by the cyst cavity getting infected by bacteria, which leads to the collection of more and more pus. If the disease keeps on progressing further, a pilonidal sinus will form. A sinus is the name given to a tract in the skin that ends blindly at a point. Basically, the abscess has now burst open and a permanent sinus tract forms that keep draining out the pus and debris.
The situation becomes embarrassing as the constant oozing leads to the soiling of undergarments and a foul smell. If any of these diseases keep recurring, the condition will be known as chronic pilonidal disease. All these terms come under the wide spectrum of pilonidal disease.
Signs of a pilonidal cyst infection
If developing in an individual, a few symptoms and signs may point towards the diagnosis of pilonidal cyst infection. At first, the person may notice a pimple-like fluid-filled swelling between both buttocks. But usually, it is the associated pain that draws attention at first. There will be severe pain in the case of pilonidal cyst infection, especially while sitting down. There might even be slight oozing of fluid at times. The swelling may eventually increase in size as well. These symptoms may be associated with high fever, malaise, nausea and vomiting. This is the cue that you need to consult a surgeon as soon as possible. Any delay in the pilonidal cyst surgery is not advised and may lead to sudden deterioration of the patient at times.
Thus it is not encouraged to wait in case of pilonidal cysts. Although, in many cases, they go off on their own without any intervention, you also need to understand that it becomes difficult to treat if it takes the form of a chronic pilonidal cyst. Further, it is unnecessary to feel embarrassed or ashamed about your pilonidal cyst since it is a very common condition. More people have it than you think. So go ahead and immediately consult a dedicated colorectal surgeon or a general surgeon if you please, and get your condition treated in case you are suffering from any of the above-mentioned problems.
