Patient's question:
My baby is ten months old. Her navel often "oozes," sometimes after bathing, sometimes with a foul smell, and sometimes without. When it "oozes," using 75% alcohol to wipe it and then applying Yunnan Baiyao for one or two days helps, but it recurs after a while. Could you please tell me what the cause is and what to do?First follow-up question: How can this frequently recurring navel inflammation be completely cured?
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Consider omphalitis. After the umbilical cord is tied, it usually shrinks and falls off within 3-7 days. If the umbilical stump is not disinfected during the umbilical cord cutting at birth or after birth, it is very easy to cause bacterial infection of the umbilical area.After developing omphalitis, mild cases may show redness at the root of the umbilical cord or on the wound after the cord falls off, with a small amount of serous or purulent discharge. The surrounding skin may not be red or only slightly red, but the child’s general condition and feeding are usually normal. Severe cases may have more purulent discharge, even forming abscesses. The skin around the umbilical area becomes red and swollen, and it may spread to most of the abdominal wall. It is often accompanied by peritonitis or even sepsis. Severe omphalitis in children may lead to poor feeding, vomiting, fever, and poor responsiveness. In the most severe cases, it can be fatal.
The treatment for omphalitis primarily involves washing the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and 75% alcohol, followed by applying 1-2% gentian violet, which can heal within a few days. Severe omphalitis should be treated by a doctor.