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What Causes Infected Cyst On Tailbone?
Question: My daughter at college has an infected gland near her tailbone. She went to the Er and they gave her pain meds and two antibiotics which don't seem to be helping the redness and swelling. They didn't see a cyst. She doesn't have a regular doctor there but how soon should she go back as the ER doc said they may have to perform some kind of surgery to remove/drain the swelling. Any ideas of what else she should be doing or going to a particular doctor for a second opinion.
Brief Answer:
Can be boil, pilonidal cyst or a fistula- Consult a General Surgeon
Detailed Answer:
HI.
Thanks for your query for your daughter.
The swelling near the tailbone can be:
Infected cyst a boil or a sebaceous cyst
Infected pilonidal cyst.
Rarely a starting of a fistula in ano.
This can be differentiated on inspection and examination by a General Surgeon.
If possible ask her to take the second opinion of a General Surgeon to get an appropriate diagnosis on clinical basis.
Any of the above mentioned problems may need incision and drainage if not amenable to the antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment. If done by a General Surgeon it may be possible to institute curative surgery in the first place.
I hope this answers your query.
Please feel free to ask further relevant questions if need be or if you feel that there is a gap-of-communication.
Can be boil, pilonidal cyst or a fistula- Consult a General Surgeon
Detailed Answer:
HI.
Thanks for your query for your daughter.
The swelling near the tailbone can be:
Infected cyst a boil or a sebaceous cyst
Infected pilonidal cyst.
Rarely a starting of a fistula in ano.
This can be differentiated on inspection and examination by a General Surgeon.
If possible ask her to take the second opinion of a General Surgeon to get an appropriate diagnosis on clinical basis.
Any of the above mentioned problems may need incision and drainage if not amenable to the antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment. If done by a General Surgeon it may be possible to institute curative surgery in the first place.
I hope this answers your query.
Please feel free to ask further relevant questions if need be or if you feel that there is a gap-of-communication.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
With her school and work obligations she is not in a hurry to address this through possible surgery. What would be the prognosis if she waited to have the surgery to drain the infected swelling/cyst?
Brief Answer:
depends upon the clinical diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, I can understand the obligations she has.
I would advise you to ask her to take an opinion of a General Surgeon so that the question in your mind will be clearing answered as we will get a definite diagnosis.
Most of such cysts / abscesses open up on their own as a body's natural mechanism by making a point of weakness in the skin. Only those which can not open on their own and keep on troubling, need incision or removal if the symptoms persist.
Please have a clinical diagnosis done by a General Surgeon to have more clear picture and then take a decision.
depends upon the clinical diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, I can understand the obligations she has.
I would advise you to ask her to take an opinion of a General Surgeon so that the question in your mind will be clearing answered as we will get a definite diagnosis.
Most of such cysts / abscesses open up on their own as a body's natural mechanism by making a point of weakness in the skin. Only those which can not open on their own and keep on troubling, need incision or removal if the symptoms persist.
Please have a clinical diagnosis done by a General Surgeon to have more clear picture and then take a decision.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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