What is umbilical granuloma?
Umbilical Granuloma is a moist red or pink lump of tissue that form on a baby’s navel (belly button). It may be seen in first few weeks of life after the stump of umbilical cord has dried and fallen off.
Why has it formed?
Umbilicla granuloma is an overgrowth of tissue during the healing process of the belly button. The exact cause of this overgrowth is unknown.
Has it anything to do with general care of a baby?
They are not related to the quality of general care of the baby. However there are higher chances of development of granuloma if it takes longer than 2 weeks for the umbilical cord to fall off
How to take general care of the umbilicus?
- Keep the belly button clean and dry
- Cleanse belly button with soap and warm water when it gets soiled with urine or stool
- Expose the belly button to the air by rolling back the top of the nappy.
How long does it takes for an umbilical cord stump wound to heal?
After the fall of umbilical cord stump, a small raw area or wound is formed which gradually heals over the next seven to ten days. In some cases the wound can take longer than ten days to heal. If you notice a soft pink or red lump that oozes clear or yellow sticky fluid and feels damp, then your baby may have an umbilical granuloma
What are the danger symptoms of umbilical granuloma?
- Redness in and around umbilicus with smelly purulent dischare (umbilical sepsis)
- Oozing of smelly, urine or stool like secretions ( This may suggest connection with urinary bladder or small intestine, which may need further investigations and sometimes surgery as well). Your pediatric surgeon may advise this if he has suspicion of this.
How umbilical granuloma is treated
- Daily cleaning the granuloma with spirit
- Application of common salt or silver nitrate solution in umbilicus. However this should be done under supervision of health professional. This may cause burns or erosions in umbilicus
- Ligation of granuloma:
This is safe, effective and OPD procedure in which a surgical ligature is tied at the base of the granuloma. It cuts off the blood supply of granuloma making it dry and fall off.
- Surgical excision of granuloma: It is a painless procedure and done under topical anaesthesia.
- Cauterisation of granuloma:
In certain patients when above methods are not possible or if base of granuloma is not pedunculated, Bipolar cauterisation of granuloma can be done. It is usually done under sedation and is a day care procedure.
Bipolar coagulation of umbilical granuloma
