UPSC aspirant was diagnosed with pilonidal sinus which is a painful condition first identified during World War II. The 21-year-old was treated at a private hospital in Delhi. According to PTI, Tarun Mittal from the Department of Laparoscopic and Laser Surgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said that the condition developed likely because the student used to sit for hours of study on library chairs. At length, he began experiencing a painful swelling in his buttock cleft.

The condition worsened, with increasing pus discharge and unbearable pain that eventually left him bedridden, he said “Considering his condition, we opted for EPSiT (Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Tract Ablation Surgery) as an ideal solution for the student so he could recover quickly and get back to his studies as soon as possible,” said Mittal, who performed the surgery.

Mittal added, “The scope is introduced into the tract and thoroughly visualized for hair, which is removed with grasping forceps. After removing all the hair and debris, a cautery is introduced to burn the entire tract, and then a brush is used to curette the tract. It took almost 30 minutes to remove all the hair from the cavity.” The entire tract is then cauterised to eliminate remaining debris and a brush is used for curettage.

A pilonidal sinus is a small hole or tunnel at the top of your bottom, between your buttocks. Treatment is usually only needed if it becomes infected. NHS says that most people with a pilonidal sinus do not notice it unless it becomes infected and causes symptoms. An infection will cause pain and swelling at the top of the cleft in your buttocks, and a pus-filled skin abscess can develop.

Sometimes a pus-filled abscess can develop suddenly, causing pain and swelling, and making it difficult to sit down. If you keep getting infections you may have ongoing problems, like discomfort or pain and regularly seeping pus or blood.

There are several complications that might happen due to pilonidal sinus infection and these include wound infection and a recurrence of the infection even after surgery. Signs that the wound is infected are:

Here are some ways to prevent pilonidal sinus infection, according to Healthline.

Washing the area on a daily basis with a mild soap

Making sure all soap is removed

Keeping the area completely dry, and avoiding sitting for long periods.

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