Pediatrics Mailing List

[Sasha]

Post in answer to this thread if your child was born with or has developed a Pilonidal cyst or dimple. This is specifically so that parents can contact other parents and help each other. By posting here, you are letting other parents know that you are open to discussing the problems that you both share. This list will grow over time as more people post. When you post, please put in the details: gender of the child, age, when you noticed the problem, where you are at in terms of medical care.

NOTE: in order for others to contact you, you must either leave an email address or join the board. Otherwise, you won't get many responses.....

Thanks for helping other parents out!!

My daughter turns four months old this upcoming thurs. and she has a Pilonidal sinus. We noticed it when she was about one month old and we are unsure if she was born with this or if it just developed after birth. My pediatrician offers no help. He says do nothing until something happens and he says that could be when she gets older. He only told me to keep the area clean.
I am a new parent and this is my first child. I am having trouble accepting a problem that I can do nothing about--just wait and see what happens? This sounds so cruel. I would sure like some advise or help with what I can do to help my baby now before something bad happens. I am not even sure if I need to take her to a specialist and if so where do I start.

My 10 month old daughter was born with what I now believe must be a Pilonidal dimple. The ped noticed it immediately when she was born & they just said, "oh she has a butt dimple" and said NOTHING more about it. No explanation of what it might develop into at all. I just thought, OK, it's a dimple, no biggie.

All we do now is keep the area clean. From what I've learned here, I'll have to talk to her about keeping it clean as she grows - especially when she reaches puberty and just let her know to be watchful for any possible swelling later on in life. I'm assuming that for at least some (hopefully MOST) people it never develops into anything.

I'm really glad I found this site - I had no idea what it was! Thank you!

[Sara]

i was born with a pilonidal cyst and so was my brother. i am now 24 yrs old (he is 27). i have never had any serious problems with it until about 2 weeks ago (first infection) - the infection had to be drained and i am healing very well. my brother's never had any problems to speak of either (his has never been infected). infections happen due to the "way the wind blows", or so it seems. my cyst however seems to have grown over the years and i am considering surgery right now. i do not know about surgery at an early age, but from what i've heard, the healing time takes a while. my two pence would be... wait until she is old enough to lay on her stomach for ~2 weeks - THEN have the surgery, during summer break or something. if i had known more about pilonidal cysts, i would have had the surgery when i was 12... i remember sitting in the surgeon's room with my mom and i would have told him i wanted it removed when he asked me for the final decision and back then, i said no out of ignorance.

thought this might be useful to someone... feel free to contact me if you have questions.

My 4 month old daughter just had a lump, just below her "dimple" that I had recently discovered on my own. While I was bathing her, the cyst apparently had ruptured, there was a lot of pus and blood that leaked out, which horrified me! I rushed her to the pediatrician who, in turn, directed me to the nearby children's hospital. Consequently, the pediatric surgeon informed me that it was a pilonidal cyst, instructed me to keep gauze on the opening, give her hot soaks 2 times a day and she is on a course of antibiotics. We meet with the surgeon again this week.

My daughter is 7 months old and was born with a pilonidal dimple. At birth, her pediatrition also referred to it as a butt dimple and said not another word about it. My husband has a pilonidal cyst and underwent surgery when he was 18 years old. Unfortunately, the surgery was not successful, and it drains continuously still. I dread the day we have problems with our daughters and am desperate for any advice.
Andrea
Andrea.Ketchersid@electraisd.net

My son, who is now 22 months old, was born with what appears to be a pilonidal cyst. I am not quite sure if I am convinced that it really is a pilonidal cyst. I noticed a strange dimple in his bottom area right after birth. The doctors never mentioned it. At 20 months old, I finally questioned it. The doctor does not seem concerned with it. He says to wait until it gets worse. My son doesn't verbalize a lot, but he is always saying his butt hurts. I have a friend who had a pilonidal cyst and had the surgery. She insists that the cyst hurt quite a bit leading up to her surgery. Since my son cannot fully communicate his pain level, I wonder if I should take him to a specialist. Any opinions would be appreciated.

My duaghter was born with a pilonidal dimple with a pinhole opening. we were told not to worry about it. Never really thought about it again (too busy providing siblings) She is now 7 and just complained of pain above her cleft and Dr. said it was cyst. and recommended surgery consult and prescribed antibiotics.

[mammadonna]

My 17 year old son had a "rectal abscess" incised and drained in August, then in October it "flared up" again and this time the surgeon called it a Pilonidal cyst afterall. I am concerned with his healing, and how to adequately care for it but most importantly prevent this from happening again. I am concerned when I see posts by people about multiple surgeries! I'd like this to be the last one!