Pilonidal Sinus Quiz

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Reviewed By:

Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc

Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care Physician)

Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.

Aiko Yoshioka, MD

Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)

Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.

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Content updated on Mar 31, 2024

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How Ubie Can Help You

With an easy 3-min questionnaire , Ubie's AI-powered system will generate a free report on possible causes.

Questions are customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:

  • Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.

  • Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.

  • History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.

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✔︎  When to see a doctor

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✔︎  Treatment information etc.

People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes

  • Redness of the skin

  • Bulging patch of skin

  • Pits on the fingertips

  • Red rash

  • Pus in the chest

  • Pus on the back of the neck

  • Fingertips have dimples or dents

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What is Pilonidal Sinus?

This refers to a small hole or tunnel at the top of the buttocks where the butt cheeks come together. It is usually harmless, very small and goes unnoticed unless it becomes infected. The cause is not fully understood but involves friction, hormones and hair growth in that area. It is more common among men, young adults, and people who sit down for long periods.

Typical Symptoms of Pilonidal Sinus

  • Bumps containing pus

  • Sores or ulcers of the skin

  • Skin redness or red bumpy rashes

Doctor's Diagnostic Questionson Pilonidal Sinus

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:

  • Do you have pus-filled bumps on your skin?

  • Do you have skin sores?

  • Do you have red skin or red spots?

Treatmentof Pilonidal Sinus

A pilonidal sinus only needs treatment in the case of infection. Mild infections may only need antibiotics and warm compresses. More severe infections may require drainage of the pus as well as antibiotics. Very severe and recurrent cases can lead to scarring and deepening tracts in the skin. These cases frequently require surgery.

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View the symptoms of Pilonidal Sinus

  • Pustule

  • Skin ulcer

  • Red skin

References

  • Bi S, Sun K, Chen S, Gu J. Surgical procedures in the pilonidal sinus disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2020 Aug 13;10(1):13720. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-70641-7. PMID: 32792519; PMCID: PMC7426950.

    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-70641-7

  • Kober MM, Alapati U, Khachemoune A. Treatment options for pilonidal sinus. Cutis. 2018 Oct;102(4):E23-E29. PMID: 30489572.

    https://www.mdedge.com/dermatology/article/183862/hair-nails/treatment-options-pilonidal-sinus

  • de Parades V, Bouchard D, Janier M, Berger A. Pilonidal sinus disease. J Visc Surg. 2013 Sep;150(4):237-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2013.05.006. Epub 2013 Aug 1. PMID: 23911903.

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1878788613000714?via%3Dihub

User Testimonials

Reviewed By:

Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc

Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care Physician)

Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.

Aiko Yoshioka, MD

Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)

Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.

From our team of 50+ doctors

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