Signs of an Infected Umbilical Cord Stump A smelly yellow discharge from the stump area. A reddening of the skin around the stump. Swelling of the navel area. Your baby crying when you touch the stump, indicating it is tender or sore.
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How do you treat an infected umbilical cord?
Antibiotic Ointment for Pus:
- If any pus is present, use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin).
- No prescription is needed.
- Put a tiny amount on the belly button.
- Do this 2 times per day after the area has been cleaned.
- Do this for 2 days. After that, use the antibiotic ointment only if you see more pus.
What should a healing umbilical cord look like?
During the healing process, it’s typical to see a little blood near the stump. Much like a scab, the cord stump might bleed a little when it falls off. However, contact your baby’s health care provider if the umbilical area oozes pus, the surrounding skin becomes red and swollen, or the area develops a pink moist bump.
What happens if a baby’s umbilical cord gets infected?
In most cases, the umbilical cord stump dries up and falls off the newborn within the first few weeks of life. But sometimes an infection can develop. This may cause the area around the cord to swell and become inflamed, red, or tender. There may be cloudy, discolored, or bad-smelling discharge from the cord.
What does an infected cord look like?
Signs of an umbilical cord infection include: a smelly yellow discharge from the stump area. reddish skin around the stump. swelling of the navel area.
What causes infected umbilical cord?
After birth, the cord, which has no nerve endings, is clamped (to stop bleeding) and cut close to the navel, leaving a stub. The stub generally falls off in one to three weeks after birth. During birth and the clamping and cutting process, germs can invade the cord and cause infection.
Infections in newborns remain a leading cause of death worldwide, and doctors believe umbilical cord infections (UCIs) are a major factor in this. However, in developed nations, serious complications from UCIs are rare, as long as the baby receives prompt medical treatment.
Belly button yeast infections often get better on their own when you keep your navel area clean and dry. Healthy people can usually treat belly button yeast infections with an antifungal medication.
“After the cord falls off, the stump may be moist and have bit of bleeding around the edges,” says Gritchen. You can “simply wash with soap and water and pat dry,” she adds. After the belly button area is completely healed and dry, you can begin a normal bath rountine for your baby.
After the cord has fallen off, the navel will gradually heal. It’s normal for the center to look red at the point of separation. It’s not normal if the redness spreads on to the belly. It’s normal for the navel to ooze some secretions.
It is normal for the belly button to look a bit mucky or to have a red spot where the cord used to be. It can also be smelly and have some clear, sticky or brownish ooze that might leave a stain on your baby’s nappy or clothes. This is part of the healing process, which may take up to seven days to mend completely.
It may take between seven days and 10 days for the area to heal completely . You may see a little blood spot on your baby’s nappy. This is quite normal.
To treat an infection
Keep the skin of your belly button clean and dry. Use an antifungal powder or cream to clear up a yeast infection. For a bacterial infection, your doctor might recommend using an antibiotic ointment. Some infections may require oral antibiotic treatment, incision and drainage of the cyst, or both.
What does a healing umbilical granuloma look like?
Most umbilical granulomas form when the belly button is healing after the umbilical cord falls off. They look like small red lumps in your child’s navel. Unlike the rest of their skin, the granuloma will be a little shiny and covered in a clear discharge.
While most belly button piercings heal without issues, bacteria can infect the area before healing is complete. Infections are usually minor. Symptoms can include pain, redness, and swelling, and improving hygiene can help. Complete healing can take 9–12 months.
If you think you have an infection in your belly button, you should call your doctor so that you can have the area cleaned carefully. You may also need prescription antibiotics to kill the bacteria before it spread to other parts of your body.
General signs and symptoms include:
- tenderness.
- pain.
- redness or skin coloration changes in or around the naval area.
- an itching, tingling, or burning sensation.
- a pus-filled abscess, which could signal a bacterial infection.
- swelling on or around your bellybutton.
- a bellybutton that’s warm to the touch.
How do I know if my newborn’s umbilical cord is infected?
Signs of an Infected Umbilical Cord Stump
A smelly yellow discharge from the stump area. A reddening of the skin around the stump. Swelling of the navel area. Your baby crying when you touch the stump, indicating it is tender or sore.
What happens if umbilical cord gets wet?
A wet diaper on the cord keeps the cord from drying and increases the risk of infection. Do not bathe your baby in a tub or sink until the cord falls off. You may give your baby a sponge bath until then. When the cord falls off, you might notice a small pink area in the bottom of the belly button.
How do you care for an umbilical cord after it falls off?
What to do after the umbilical cord falls off
- Wipe away any remaining secretions with a dampened washcloth and pat dry.
- Stick to sponge baths for a couple of days longer and then let your baby indulge in a tub.
How do I clean my baby’s umbilical cord?
During the time the cord is healing it should be kept as clean and as dry as possible. A sponge bath is the best way to clean your baby until the umbilical cord falls off. To give a sponge bath, dip a soft cloth in the warm water and wring out the excess. If needed, a mild soap can be used in the water.