Treatment of a pilonidal abscess 

Pilonidal disease can manifest itself in local pain, bumps in and around the buttocks, intermittent swelling and discharge, bad odor, and discomfort when sitting, which can last for years. Common complaints from those suffering from the disease are "tailbone pain," "tailbone pain when sitting," "inverted hair," "inverted hair on the tailbone," etc.

If signs of inflammation with skin redness and purulent discharge are observed in the buttocks, the inflammation can be soothed with antibiotic pills, antibiotic ointments, and warm soaks.

Sometimes, within a few hours or days, acute inflammation and the formation of a closed pus pocket ( an abscess ) can develop in the area of the disease.

A pilonidal abscess usually manifests itself in local swelling and severe pain, to the point of being unable to sit. The development of a pilonidal abscess requires the creation of an opening in the abscess bulge to drain the pus urgently by a doctor in a clinic or emergency room, usually under local anesthesia.

It is recommended to avoid attempts at treatment using pressure or self-acupuncture.

Antibiotic treatment for a pilonidal abscess is not effective as a sole treatment, but it can be added after surgical drainage in the event of significant signs of inflammation around the abscess or an unknown immune system deficiency.

Important to know: Draining a pilonidal abscess is intended to treat the acute infection only. In most cases, surgical treatment will be necessary to fully cure the components of the pilonidal disease.