India, Sept. 1 -- A painful lump near the tailbone, discomfort while sitting or a small opening that occasionally causes discharge may not seem like symptoms worth discussing with a doctor. However, these can be signs of a pilonidal sinus, a condition that is often overlooked until it becomes infected and develops into a painful abscess. It typically occurs on the skin near the tailbone and can interfere with everyday activities, particularly sitting and walking.

HT Lifestyle reached out to Dr Pankaj Sharma - the director of the department of robotics, bariatric, laparoscopic and general surgery at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, and the founder of Shalya Clinic in Rohini, New Delhi - who explains, "Pilonidal sinus is often misunderstood...