Umbilical inflammation is caused by improper handling of the umbilical cord after cutting or birth, leading to bacterial infection and inflammation of the umbilical stump, commonly due to staphylococcus and large intestine bacillus infections. Umbilical inflammation can progress to umbilical pulsitis and umbilical phlebitis, with bacteria entering the bloodstream potentially causing sepsis or spreading locally to peritonitis.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

(1) Clinical manifestations Mild cases present with grade I redness and swelling of the umbilical ring and surrounding skin, accompanied by a small amount of purulent discharge. Severe cases exhibit obvious redness, swelling, and induration around the umbilicus, with foul-smelling purulent discharge that spreads to the surrounding skin, forming cellulitis of the abdominal wall, or extends to the abdominal membrane, leading to abdominal membrane inflammation; alternatively, it may spread through blood vessels, causing sepsis. Chronic umbilical inflammation often forms granulomas, manifesting as small cherry-red masses with persistent purulent discharge that fails to heal.

(2) Laboratory tests Bacterial culture of umbilical discharge or blood culture.

bubble_chart Treatment Measures

﹝Treatment﹞

(1) For mild cases, simply clean the affected area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and 75% alcohol, or apply antibiotic wet compresses or antibiotic ointment topically.

(2) For cases with significant pus, local spreading, or systemic symptoms, appropriate antibiotics can be selected based on smear or bacterial culture results.

(3) For umbilical granulomas, apply a 10% silver nitrate solution topically.

(1) Patent egg yolk duct (umbilical-intestinal fistula) After injecting contrast medium into the umbilical orifice, X-ray examination shows it entering the ileum. Surgical treatment is required.

(2) Urachal fistula After injecting contrast medium, X-ray examination shows it entering the bladder, or after intravenous injection of methylene blue, blue urine can be seen discharged from the umbilicus.

(3) Umbilical sinus Caused by closure of the ileum end of the egg yolk duct while the umbilical end remains patent. Probe examination may reveal a sinus or a globular polyp mass, called umbilical polyp or umbilical polyp, which should be surgically removed.