Hello sdill4201,
I believe you are describing a pilonidal cyst.
Pilonidal cycts are a puzzling phenonmenon, and some believe the cyst
actually forms before birth. The name comes from Latin, pilus meaning
hair and nidal meaning nest. The name, pilonidal cyst is actually a
misnomer, since over half of these contain no hair, and are basically
subcutaneous (below the skin) abcesses.This condition used to be known
to military service members as ?Jeep Rider?s Disease?
Pilonidal cysts are thought to occur when a hair follicle, along the
crease, becomes pitted, creating a vacuum. This vacuum attracts hair
and cellular debris, causing inflammation Sometimes a hair or two
becomes ingrown, although only about 50% of these cysts actually
contain hair upon excision.
?A pilonidal cyst is a chronic infection of the skin near the
buttocks. It usually occurs near the formation of the crease between
the buttocks. This condition results from the body's reaction to hairs
which are embedded within the skin. It usually occurs in women between
puberty and age 40. Patients who are obese or those with thick body
hair also have an increased incidence of pilonidal cysts.?
http://www.gastromd.com/education/pilonidalcysts.html
http://www.healthsquare.com/mc/fgmc1203.htm
?This seemingly minor disease process has physicians baffled, as
demonstrated by the multiple theories of its etiology and management
in the current literature. Congenital and acquired theories of
etiology have been proposed. For a time, the entity was referred to as
Jeep rider's disease. It caused more than 80,000 US Army soldiers to
be hospitalized during WWII and accounted for 4.2 million sick days.
Much of the information we have about the disease comes from the
military.?
?patients with pilonidal disease may seek advice for asymptomatic pits
or holes in the natal cleft.
?Most patients seek medical attention for a history of progressive
tenderness after physical activity or a period of prolonged sitting,
such as during a long drive.
?Acute purulent drainage, pain, and/or swelling may be present.
?Systemic manifestations are rare, but patients may have malaise and fever.
?Twenty percent of symptomatic presentations are a result of an acute
pilonidal abscess.
?Eighty percent of symptomatic presentations are exacerbations or
manifestations of chronic disease.
Physical: Findings at physical examination may include the following:
?Presacral midline edema and/or nodule
?Fluctuance
?Purulent discharge from one or more lesions
?Tenderness to palpation
?Warmth
?Induration and/or cellulitis (usually minimal)
?Visible or palpable tracts of 2-5 cm in length in chronic or recurrent disease
?Fever (infrequent)
?Nontenderness and/or nonfluctuance at rectal examination
Causes:
?Pilonidal disease involves a combination of skin and perineal flora.
o Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism.
o Bacteroides species are the most common anaerobes.
?Risk factors include the following:
o Male sex
o Family predisposition
o Obesity
o Sedentary lifestyle
o Repeated trauma
o Occupation requiring prolonged sitting
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic771.htm
?A pilonidal cyst is a cyst at the bottom of the tailbone (coccyx)
that can become infected and filled with pus. Once infected, the
technical term is pilonidal abscess. Pilonidal abscesses look like a
large pimple at the bottom of the tailbone, just above the crack of
the buttocks. It is more common in men than in women. It usually
happens in young people up into the fourth decade of life.?
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/20243-1.asp
Treatment
=========
Pilonidal cysts rarely go away without treatment. In answer to your
question about seeing someone, yes. You DO need to visit your doctor.
While rare, the cyst can turn into a cellulitis which can make you
very ill. Treatment varies from patient to patient, doctor to doctor.
Usually, the cyst is incised and drained, after applying a local
anesthetic. The area is then rinsed out and packed with antiseptic
dressings. Generally speaking, oral antibiotics are not needed unless
the cyst has become abscessed or appears to be spreading, as in a
cellulitis. About 44% of patients have a recurrence of the problem,
even with treatment.
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic771.htm
?Treatment for a pilonidal cyst usually begins when the patient goes
to the doctor because of pain. It is treated as an infection, and a
doctor might prescribe antibiotics as well as the application of hot
compresses. Often the cyst is lanced, and surgery is a method that has
met with some success for curing pilonidal cysts. Surgery on a cyst in
the tailbone area involves cutting out the skin and flesh all the way
down to the coccyx and allowing the body to regrow the ablated tissue.
Varying methods are used to either pack the wound, or suture it
partially and even completely, closed depending on the physician's
opinion on how best to treat the patient. The condition can recur,
even after surgery. Some people have a chronic problem with this,
while others never have the condition again after surgical treatment.?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilonidal_cyst
http://www.pilonidal.org/treatments/right4me.htm
http://www.pilonidal.org/whatitis.htm
http://www.pilonidal.org/living.htm
Illustrations:
==============
Look for the small camera icon, to see an illustration
http://my.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/ug1161.asp
Another illustration
http://www.permiangi.com/pictures/pilonidal.jpg
More information and very graphic photos:
http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2003/december/Miller/Pilonidal-Sinus.html
I hope this has helped you. This answer is for informational purposes
only, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace sound medical
advice.
Please request an Answer Clarification, before rating, and I will be
glad to assist you further, if possible.
Regards, crabcakes
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