Pilonidal Cyst Infections

A pilonidal cyst develops when a small scar or skin abrasion gets a dead hair pushed into it. When the hair begins to grow into the skin, a tiny one-ended tunnel below the skin's surface forms. If germs grow inside of this tunnel, an infection can develop. If a blockage seals off the end of the tiny tunnel, a painful, boil-like lesion occurs. Pilonidal cysts occur directly above the buttock cleft, in the skin that covers the tailbone.

Symptoms

• When a pilonidal cyst is not infected, it will most likely not cause symptoms. However, if it does get infected, it can cause symptoms that can get quite severe. When infected, this cyst becomes a swollen abscess, and the symptoms can include pain (often severe), fever (not very common), localized swelling, protruding hair from the abscess, skin reddening at the area of the cyst, draining pus with a foul odor, and drainage of blood or pus from a skin opening.

Causes and Risk Factors

• Pilonidal cysts' risk factors and causes are the same. According to the Mayo Clinic, the causes and risk factors include obesity, excessive sweating, inactive lifestyle, poor hygiene, prolonged sitting, coarse or stiff hair and excessive body hair. If a person already has a pilonidal cyst, excessive sweating and poor hygiene can greatly contribute to infection.

Diagnosis

• Doctors most often diagnose infected pilonidal cysts by examining them. When a patient presents the symptoms the doctor will look at the area above the buttock cleft for signs of redness and swelling. They will also check to see if any pus or blood is draining. Sometimes the doctor will see a small sac with a hair in it. The doctor may gently probe the area and in some cases take samples of drainage, if there is any, to analyze for infection.

Treatment

• Once a doctor has diagnosed an infected pilonidal cyst they will begin treating it. The most common treatment method is a procedure in which the doctor numbs the area with a local anesthetic and then makes an incision into the infected cyst. This incision will allow the cyst to drain and heal. The incision would will be carefully packed with dressings that will allow it to heal inside and out. Patients may also be prescribed a course of antibiotics. According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately fifty to sixty percent of patients do not experience a recurrence after this procedure. If this procedure is ineffective, the doctor will recommend surgery. They may perform either an open surgery (the wound is left open to heal) or a closed surgery (the wound is sutured shut). Both of these surgeries are performed to extract pus, hairs and debris.

Prevention

• To prevent an infected pilonidal cyst, the patient can be sure to keep the buttock cleft clean, dry and free of hairs. He should thoroughly wash the area daily with with a glycerin soap and thoroughly rinse and dry it. He should avoid putting oils, powders or herbal remedies on this area. Patients should also not sit for prolonged periods of time.