Medical management is primarily for controlling active infection.Antibiotics alone cannot cure a pilonidal sinus, as the hair nest remains inside.
If you have a painful, red swelling (Acute Abscess), antibiotics are started immediately. However, pus under pressure MUST be drained.
For acute infection with fever. Helps reduce redness and swelling but cannot remove the sinus tract.
Emergency procedure for painful abscesses. A small cut releases pus, giving instant pain relief.
Shaving or Laser Hair Removal around the natal cleft prevents hair from entering and worsening the condition.
Injecting specialized medical glue to seal the sinus tract. Success rate varies.
Antibiotics travel via blood. Since a sinus tract is a dead space filled with hair and pus (no blood supply), medicines cannot reach inside to kill bacteria effectively. They only reduce surrounding swelling. Surgery is eventually needed.
The Truth
"Patients come to me after taking antibiotics for months. The sinus is still there because the hair nest is still inside."
Dr. Jaya Maheshwari explains why prescribing antibiotics repeatedly for Pilonidal Sinus is a bad practice and leads to antibiotic resistance.
Medical management is a bridge to surgery, not a replacement.
