A doctor from the UK has brought attention to an often-overlooked health issue that can be 'very severe and painful'. Dr. Ahmed, a UK-based general practitioner, frequently shares educational videos about various health conditions.
In a recent TikTok video, he informed viewers about the risks of an infected pilonidal sinus. A pilonidal sinus is a small opening or tunnel located at the base of the lower back, just above the buttocks, and it requires immediate medical attention if it becomes infected, often necessitating surgery, according to Dr. Ahmed.
At the beginning of his TikTok video, he mentioned that he had just referred a patient for an emergency operation. The doctor stated: "I just sent a patient in for emergency operation for one of the most painful conditions that you can have and a lot of people don't know about it and I think everybody needs to be aware of it."
He added that many individuals have a pilonidal sinus "without knowing about it" - as long as it isn't infected, most people "will have no symptoms." However, the UK GP cautioned that if these sinuses become infected, they can be "very, very painful and actually very bad and almost always need an operation."
He shared that he has encountered cases of patients "who needed plastic surgery because the sinus was so big and infected the amount of tissue was vast and therefore needed replacing." Dr. Ahmed then outlined some symptoms to watch out for.
Pain and bleeding discharge
He highlighted that pain is a key indicator of an infected pilonidal sinus, describing it as a "very, very bad, severe pain" that "does not get any better." This discomfort is usually experienced in the lower back around the buttock area.
The NHS website concurs with Dr Ahmed's assessment, stating that most individuals with a pilonidal sinus remain unaware of it until it becomes infected and symptomatic. The NHS warns that an infection "will cause pain and swelling at the top of the cleft in your buttocks."
Dr Ahmed also cautioned that there might be some "bleeding discharge" from the lower back in the sinus area.
A small bump on the lower back
The doctor mentioned another symptom being a small, tender bump on the lower back. He elaborated: "Now if it's left you can become septic from this and you can become very unwell."
Dr Ahmed also said that you can have a fever or chills. He went on to say: "Now we don't fully know what causes a pilonidal sinus. Here are three of the most common reasons why you might get one.
"The first one is from general friction from the top of the buttocks. This can push hair inwards into the sinus.
"Secondly is having loose hair that gathers in the area. This can enter the sinus which can become infected.
"And finally, if you're sitting for long periods you're [at] higher risk of getting infected pilonidal sinus."
Treatment options
The doctor then discussed treatment options, noting that an operation followed by antibiotics is typically the course of action for treating an infected pilonidal sinus. Dr Ahmed has stressed: "If you have a pilonidal sinus that's not infected you may not need an operation or antibiotics and just keep an eye on it to make sure if it does get infected it's treated quickly."
The NHS website supports this with the recommendation of a "watch and wait" strategy if infection markers are absent. The site further advises: "It's very important to keep the area between your buttocks clean by showering or bathing regularly. Do not shave the affected area unless a GP advises you to."
If you notice a small, painful bump at the top of the bottom (between the buttocks) that bleeds or emits pus, the NHS urges seeking urgent medical attention by making an appointment with a GP or dialling 111. Such symptoms, which can manifest rapidly within days, could denote an infection that necessitates prompt treatment.
If you have any health-related questions or worries, reaching out to a medical professional without delay is strongly encouraged.
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