Which symptoms occur with diseases of the navel? | The belly button

Which symptoms occur with diseases of the navel?

In the case of a complete navel fistula (yolk duct not regressed at all), the contents of the intestine may be secreted through the navel. In the case of an incomplete fistula, the duct is only partially present, i.e. there is inflammation, but no discharge of intestinal contents. Since there is a connection between the bladder and the scar in the case of an urinary fistula, the consequence is a constantly weeping navel.

The opening also brings with it a certain risk of infection, which can manifest itself in recurring inflammation. An umbilical hernia causes severe pain in the immediate vicinity of the navel, which often leads to a visit to the doctor. In addition, there may be redness and swelling or protrusion of the navel.

In the case of an inflammation of the navel in children and also in babies, the main symptoms are redness and swelling of the navel and the surrounding tissue. Another typical indication of an inflammation of the navel is outflowing pus. Pain in the navel can have many different causes. In children, for example, harmless growth pains are possible, but pathological processes in the abdominal cavity, such as appendicitis or umbilical hernia, can also cause pain in the navel.

Diseases of the navel

Although the navel has no function in humans, it is not completely insignificant. There are a number of medically relevant illnesses that usually require treatment or can even be dangerous. In addition to diseases of the navel, there are also so-called navel anomalies, which usually heal without complications.

These include the amniotic navel and the skin or meat belly button. A frequent complication of the bellybutton is the umbilical hernia, which occurs mainly in newborns (omphalocele), but can also affect adults. In addition, it may be caused by a lack of regression of some of the structures present in the foetus, which can lead to a “urrachus fistula” or an open yolk duct (Ductus omphaloentericus).

These malformations may cause urine or intestinal contents to leak from the navel. Other common diseases of the navel are umbilical bleeding and inflammation (omphalitis), which, however, occur mainly in babies. Inflammation of the baby’s navel, also known as “omphalitis”, is a complication that usually occurs during regression or shortly after the umbilical cord has been severed.

This leads to an inflammation of the not yet healed umbilical stump, usually bacterial. The first symptoms of omphalitis are redness, swelling, painfulness and an increased purulent discharge from the navel. Omphalitis is usually diagnosed early and usually treated with antibiotics.

In more severe cases, surgical treatment may be necessary. Without early treatment and in the case of severe infections, omphalitis can spread to the bloodstream and trigger a systemic inflammation. This can lead to severe fever, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, weakness and fatigue, and confusion.

Untreated, omphalitis can be dangerous for the newborn, which is why complications and severe progressions are still common, especially in developing countries. Inflammation of the navel in adults is relatively rare, as it usually requires an external influence that penetrates or opens the natural barrier of the skin. This often happens by the application of one or several piercings.

Therefore it is advisable to observe the navel after such an operation to be able to react in case of an inflammation. A further possibility for inflammation in adulthood are developmental malformations, an inflamed umbilical hernia or lack of hygiene. Discharge of pus from the belly button or a purulent coating are frequent phenomena when cutting the umbilical cord in newborns (regression of the umbilical cord).

A small amount of pus is usually normal and requires no treatment. However, the rest of the umbilical cord should be closely monitored and appropriately cared for. If, however, a lot of pus comes out or if other phenomena besides pus occur, such as redness, pain, fever or swelling, a doctor should be consulted, as it could be an inflammation of the navel, which needs to be treated.

A pulling in or around the navel is a very unspecific symptom and can have many causes. Mostly it is a harmless event that can occur from time to time. However, if a prolonged pulling occurs or if the pulling is very strong or worsening, there may be diseases that need treatment.

It is also important to pay attention to other symptoms that are present at the same time, such as nausea, pain, diarrhoea, dizziness and the like, as these can give an important indication of an underlying cause. For example, if there is a constant pulling in connection with a swelling or external changes of the navel, this can indicate an umbilical hernia. An umbilical hernia, also known as “umbilical hernia” or in infants as “omphalocele”, is a common occurrence in which the muscles surrounding the navel weaken or give way, followed by the entry of abdominal contents into the navel.

Babies are affected much more frequently because the abdominal muscles have not yet reached full strength and the umbilical ring is therefore more easily weakened. In babies, this causes the navel to bulge out into the remaining part of the umbilical cord (omphalocele). In children and adults, umbilical hernias are either congenital or develop due to increased pressure in the abdomen.

A weakness of the connective tissue is another risk factor for umbilical hernias. The combination of increased pressure in the abdomen and a weakness in the abdominal muscles, which is for example the navel, leads to a bulging of the abdominal contents. These are usually intestinal loops, which are then also called “hernial sacs”, but can also be abdominal organs, which is a more complicated process.

While umbilical hernias often recede of their own accord in the newborn, in adolescents or adults a surgical intervention with stabilization of the abdominal wall is usually necessary. A smelly navel can have many causes. The most common cause is a lack of hygiene.

As the navel is often turned inwards, it provides a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Bacteria love a moist and warm surface, which a belly button presents to them. Therefore, if you have a stinking belly button, you should always ensure adequate hygiene.

Another common reason for a bad smelling navel are so-called “omphaliths”. Omphaliths are navel stones that are formed over time by pressing together dead and fallen skin scales. Navel stones usually appear brownish and are mainly found in the narrow deep areas of the navel.

They are often difficult to remove. In this case, it can be helpful to use a cotton swab to help and thus regularly clean the navel. Other causes can be skin rashes, psoriasis or contact allergies.

Contact allergies are often caused by piercings or tight-fitting, irritating clothing. Besides the harmless and often hygiene-related causes, a navel malformation can also be the cause of the odour. In this case, besides the odour, there is often also a leakage of liquid, a so-called weeping navel.

Causes of a bleeding navel are usually small inflammations or injuries within the navel. This can be, for example, a small inflammation, a pimple or an insect bite. A closer inspection of the navel can be very helpful at this point.

A major bleeding or an additional occurrence of pus and pain can indicate a major inflammation or abscess. Frequently, after the insertion of a piercing or other foreign material, post-bleeding occurs. These are mostly also in connection with a small inflammation and often heal by themselves.

If it comes beside a bleeding also to a leakage of liquid and a bad smell, a navel malformation could be behind it. If there is additional swelling and changes in the shape of the navel, caution is required, as an umbilical hernia could be hidden behind it. In newborns, on the other hand, there is very often bleeding from the remainder of the umbilicus, which can sometimes bleed very heavily and for a very long time.

This is a common phenomenon which is usually self-limited and does not require treatment. In any case, a doctor should be consulted if there is bleeding from the navel in order to get to the bottom of the cause, to eliminate it and to avoid a recurrence in the future. Endometriosis is a disease in which the appearance of uterine mucosa outside the uterus causes regular, cycle-dependent, severe pain and bleeding.

In “extragenital endometriosis” the symptoms occur in areas that have no connection with the reproductive organs. In rare cases, endometriosis of the navel can also occur. An indication of this would be an additional occurrence of severe cycle pains in addition to the pain in the navel.

A weeping navel can be an indication of an embryonic malformation. For example, there may be a remaining connection between the bladder and the navel (urrachus fistula). This leads to constant, uncontrollable weeping from the navel.

Another malformation is the so-called persistent yolk duct (persistent ductus omphaloentericus). This is a connection between the small intestine and the navel that has existed since embryonic age and has not completely regressed during development. This leads to a leakage of liquid intestinal contents from the navel.

However, if a navel wets for the first time and has been inconspicuous up to now, it is more likely that a small bacterial inflammation or a fungal infection is present. Belly navel fluff has long been an unexplained, mysterious phenomenon. But since 2001, a study has revealed what exactly they are and where they come from.

Navel fluff consists mainly of textile fibres, but also of dust, hair cells and hair. They are mainly created by rubbing the abdominal hairs against clothing and are then also transported through the hairs to the navel, where they increase in size. People who have a concave (inwardly curved) navel and a particularly large and long belly hair are particularly susceptible to lint.

Furthermore, the number of fluff increases with age and also increases with increased physical activity. In winter, more fuzz is detected because more clothing is worn. Accordingly, women generally have less lint.

The average colour of lint is blue-grey and world records have even been set in collecting navel lint. In summary, belly button lint is completely normal and absolutely without any disease value! However, for reasons of personal hygiene and to prevent bacterial inflammation, it can be helpful to remove the fluff and clean the navel.

There are various reasons for red spots or rashes on and around the navel. The most common cause is local reactions to certain stimuli. For example, shaving of the abdominal hair, contact allergy, inflammation, insect bites or stings may be the cause.

Other possibilities, especially if the rash appears all over the abdomen or in other places, are systemic diseases such as infections, herpes viruses (e.g. shingles), allergies, fungi, psoriasis, measles, chickenpox, rubella, neurodermatitis, scarlet fever or autoimmune diseases. In the case of an abscess, a local inflammation, usually caused by bacteria, occurs, which in the course of the disease penetrates into the depths and creates an artificial cavity there. Since the navel is a suitable place for bacteria to reproduce, it is not uncommon for navel abscesses to occur.

Within the inflammation, the body’s own defence cells invade the area and try to fight the pathogen, causing pus to form. The increased production of pus leads to a painful swelling, which can often be recognized as a bulge under the skin. Since the abscess is usually very deep in the skin and does not usually heal on its own, surgical “abscess splitting” is almost always necessary.