Diagnosis
A child’s navel inflammation can usually be diagnosed simply by looking at it. The inflammation is noticeable by redness and swelling of the navel region. Typically, secretion is added, which emerges from the navel.
The doctor can determine the pathogen causing the navel inflammation precisely by taking a swab to select a suitable antibiotic for treatment. The typical signs of inflammation appear in the blood in the case of an inflammation of the navel. It is possible to examine the region of the navel using ultrasound. Usually, however, the clinical appearance is sufficient to make a diagnosis of an inflammation of the bellybutton.
Treatment
If a child has an existing navel inflammation, suitable therapy should be started as soon as possible to prevent the pathogens from entering the blood and causing blood poisoning. Depending on how pronounced the inflammation is, an attempt can first be made to treat it with an antiseptic or antibiotic-containing ointment. However, close monitoring by the paediatrician is necessary in order to be able to react immediately to any deterioration.
If the inflammation of the navel is already very pronounced in the child, or if treatment with ointments is not sufficient, an antibiotic, usually in the form of a juice or tablets, is prescribed in a dosage appropriate to the child’s age. In any case, this should be taken over the entire prescribed period in order to kill all pathogens. If there are complications in the course of the disease, such as if an abscess forms, tissue dies off or the progression of the infection cannot be stopped by an antibiotic, the inflammation of the navel must be operated.
Then the infection can only be brought under control by a surgical intervention and the operation may be life-saving. A stay in hospital with intensive medical care is often unavoidable in the case of a severe, rapidly spreading navel inflammation. An ointment is often the first therapeutic approach for a child’s navel inflammation.
However, this is only possible if the inflammation is not too far advanced and is only limited to the navel. In such cases, the paediatrician prescribes an ointment containing antibiotics, which must be applied regularly to the navel and the surrounding region. If no improvement can be achieved with the ointment or if the inflammation even spreads, a paediatrician should be consulted immediately and a systemic antibiotic administration should be started, i.e. in tablet or juice form.
Duration of navel inflammation in the child
If a child is suspected of having a navel inflammation, a paediatrician should be consulted immediately, as the pathogens spread very quickly and can then lead to complications. After starting therapy with antibiotic-containing ointments or the intake of an antibiotic, the symptoms should improve within a few days. Close monitoring by the paediatrician is very important, as the complications can be life-threatening under certain circumstances. If the course is uncomplicated, the symptoms should have subsided after about a week.
