What happens during your appointment?
At your appointment your consultant will review your medical history which will include any previous drainage or changes experienced in the area. This will be followed by an examination of the site where they will look for any redness, inflammations or other abnormalities.
If necessary, you may need tests or scans to rule out infection and confirm your diagnosis.
Treatment options
If the pilonidal sinus is not infected, your consultant will advise no treatment but encourage you to monitor the area for any changes. If you do notice any changes i.e., the area has reddened, bleeding, painful and oozing pus your consultant will recommend a treatment tailored to you.
- Antibiotics
- Incision and drainage
- EPSiT
- Surgery
What are the symptoms you may have?
Pilonidal sinus may start of as a small depression in the skin with no noticeable symptoms. Once infected, however, the depression develops into a cyst or abscess.
- experience severe pain when sitting or standing
- pain and swelling of the lesion
- redness and a sore skin around the area
- pus or blood draining from the abscess, this leading to a foul odor
- hair protruding from the cyst
- fever (very rare)
- formation of more than one sinus tract
Meet the team
Learn more about our team of consultant colorectal surgeons and the rest of your care team.
