An umbilical granuloma is a patch of skin that remains on a newborn’s belly button after the umbilical cord falls off. Treatment may include chemicals or surgical thread, and proper hygiene can prevent infection. Surgery may be necessary if less invasive treatments are unsuccessful.
An umbilical granuloma is a medical term used to describe a patch of skin that remains on a newborn’s belly button after the umbilical cord falls off. The exact reason some babies develop an umbilical granuloma while others don’t is not clearly understood and there is no evidence to suggest there are any hygiene issues involved. Treatment may include the use of special chemicals or a type of surgical thread, depending on your individual situation. Any questions or concerns about an umbilical granuloma or the best treatment option for a particular situation should be discussed with a doctor or other medical professional.
While there is no known way to prevent an umbilical granuloma from developing, proper hygiene can prevent further problems, such as infection, from occurring. The cable should be cleaned thoroughly several times a day until it falls out with water or alcohol. Some doctors no longer recommend alcohol use, although many parents report fewer problems with the umbilical cord area when using alcohol.
When a baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut, leaving a short stump that dries up and falls off a few days after birth. In some cases, this process does not occur normally and a small stalk of flesh remains after the rest of the umbilical cord has fallen off. A discharge containing mucus tends to ooze from the granuloma until it is medically treated.
A special type of chemical known as silver nitrate is commonly used to burn the granuloma. There are no nerves in this stalk of meat, so there is no pain or discomfort for the baby during this procedure. In some cases, liquid nitrogen can be used instead of silver nitrate. Less commonly, surgical thread may be tied to the umbilical granuloma, causing the tissue to die and fall off painlessly.
Several treatments may be needed when using silver nitrate or liquid nitrogen to remove umbilical granuloma. The surgical thread method is not as popular as it once was due to the possibility of complications. If less invasive treatment methods are unsuccessful, surgery to remove the umbilical granuloma may be necessary. The medical staff will discuss the various treatment options with the parents of the affected child and help decide the most appropriate treatment for the individual situation.
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