Complications of an inflammation of the navel
One of the most important complications of an inflammation of the navel is blood poisoning (sepsis). Signs of blood poisoning can include high fever, increased heart rate, and increased breathing. Besides blood poisoning, peritonitis can also occur, which is very dangerous.
Furthermore, it is possible that surrounding tissue dies off due to the infection. This happens to a particular extent if the navel inflammation is a so-called necrotising fasciitis. In rare cases, a complication can be abscess formation in the liver or spread to the heart wall (endocarditis).
Differences to be compared to belly button inflammation in babies
In adults, an inflammation of the navel is usually much more harmless. Typically, an inflammation of the navel manifests itself in the first days of a newborn’s life. In adults, navel inflammation is rather unusual.
Compared to adults, newborns are much more susceptible to infections because their immune system is only very weakly developed and has not yet come into contact with many bacteria, so that their immune system cannot react quickly enough to the pathogens. The skin of newborn babies only comes into contact with bacteria from birth, as they are first washed around by amniotic fluid that is completely free of bacteria. Due to the weaker immune system, babies and children are more likely to develop complications such as blood poisoning than adults.
Inflammation of the navel during pregnancy
In some cases navel inflammation in adults can also occur during pregnancy. In this case, pathogens can enter through small skin tears and lead to an infection. The skin tears are caused by the increasing growth of the child, which results in increasing tension of the abdominal skin. At some point, the skin can no longer withstand this tension, so that small tears occur, which are usually so small that they cannot be seen. This topic might also be of interest to you: Infections during pregnancy
Diagnosis of an inflammation of the navel
A navel inflammation is usually a visual diagnosis, as it usually manifests itself through its typical triad of redness, swelling and secretion. To identify the pathogen, the treating physician takes a smear from the navel so that a bacterial culture can be made in the laboratory. The exact determination of the pathogen is important so that a targeted therapy with an antibiotic can be carried out if the infection is persistent.
In addition, blood is often taken to check whether the inflammation values have increased and whether there are signs of blood poisoning. If there is a suspicion that the inflammation has spread, an ultrasound examination of the abdomen can be carried out, for example to rule out a liver abscess.
