After birth, the umbilical cord is separated as the connection between the baby and the placenta so that there is always a small residual stump. This usually falls off after one week to 10 days and only allows the later navel to develop. Until then, it is an open entry point for all pathogens into the baby’s body.
Causes
Bacterial pathogens are the most common causes of navel inflammation in babies. These are often transmitted from mother to baby during the birth process. This is then a so-called newborn infection.
The navel stump, which remains after the baby has been cut off from the mother, can be seen, roughly speaking, as an open wound that represents a connection between the outside world and the inside of the body. This makes it particularly easy for germs to enter the body and cause infections both locally in the area of the navel and throughout the body. In most cases this is not a single pathogen, but so-called mixed infections with several pathogens.
Typical bacterial pathogens that lead to an inflammation of the navel in babies are mainly skin and intestinal germs. The so-called Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and Klebsiellae play a special role here. Since newborn babies do not yet have a pronounced immune system, as is the case in adults, they are particularly susceptible to infections.
The risk of an inflammation of the baby’s navel is also increased by the constant wearing of diapers. Diapers are usually so large that they reach up to the baby’s navel and often even cover it. This means that they can of course rub against the umbilical stump, especially at the beginning, and thus lead to an inflammation of the baby’s navel.
In addition, wearing a diaper often brings the navel into contact with urine and faeces, which increases the risk of infection. There are a number of other risk factors that increase the incidence of navel inflammation in babies. These include a low birth weight of the baby, premature birth, or malformations in the region of the navel.
Even at the age of 6 months, the baby may occasionally have an inflammation of the belly button. As in the period after birth, this can be caused by rubbing the diaper. Constant wetness in combination with wearing the diaper can be a cause of belly button inflammation in the baby.
Another possible cause is the so-called Urachus fistula. A Urachus fistula is a congenital cause of navel inflammation in babies. Before the birth of a baby, there is an anatomical passage between the baby’s bladder and its navel.
This passage should normally close until birth or at the latest shortly after birth. If this passage does not close with connective tissue, the connection between the bladder and the navel remains intact. One symptom of this is a constantly and long-term weeping navel.
The clear fluid that escapes from the navel is the baby’s urine. Another prenatal structure is the so-called Ductus omphaloentericus. This is a duct, which this time is located between the intestine and the navel.
This should also close until birth or shortly after birth. If there is no closure, small amounts of stool can empty into the navel and thus also lead to an inflammation of the baby’s navel. Inflammation of the navel often occurs in the 6-9 month age range.
This is mainly due to the fact that the bacterial load of the skin naturally increases during the first months of life, but the defence system is not yet as well developed as in adults. For this reason, the navel may become red and then become infected if the area around the navel is not cleaned sufficiently. Initially, the treatment should be carried out by means of regular intensive cleaning and by applying Bepanthen ointment to the navel.
If this does not result in sufficient improvement, antibiotic ointment should be used. Infants of one year of age already have a fairly good immune system, as they have to defend themselves against pathogens that are exposed to every day. Nevertheless, it can happen that the bacterial load on the skin and in the navel is so high that the resistance is insufficient and causes an infection in the navel.
If this is the case, treatment should be started promptly. At first with a regular cleaning of the navel, if this does not help then with the treatment with Bepanthen ointment, and if no sufficient improvement can be achieved, an antibiotic ointment should be used. The typical symptoms of a belly button inflammation in babies are the classic signs of inflammation, as with other inflammations in the body.
These include redness, swelling, overheating and pain. Especially in the case of an inflammation of the baby’s navel, there is a possible leakage of fluids from the navel. These can be either greasy and watery, bloody or even purulent.
In most cases of a navel inflammation, an unpleasant smell can be perceived from the navel region. Since the navel stump is initially an entry point for pathogens into the body, it is particularly dangerous to develop an infection during this time. But even after the umbilical stump has fallen off, the path from the outside into the body via the navel is very short, so that an infection in the umbilical region always represents an increased risk of so-called systemic infections, i.e. infections that then affect the whole body.
The first signs of a delayed infection and thus of the pathogens spreading in the baby’s body are, for example, fever and weakness in drinking. However, an increased heart rate and breathing problems can also indicate a so-called sepsis (blood poisoning). Due to the individual depth of the navel, cleaning can be difficult, which can lead to recurring inflammation in the area of the navel.
After an initial reddening, which signals an inflammation in the navel, there is not only severe itching, burning or pain, but also pus formation if the inflammation is severe. Pus is a reaction of the immune system and is triggered by the white blood cells that act against the pathogen. However, in most cases, a suppurating wound is initiated by oozing and discharge from the navel. At the latest when pus is formed, medication should be taken to combat the inflammation in the navel.
