Omphalitis in newborns: causes, treatment. Bleeding navel in newborns

Many babies have inflammation of the navel in the first month of life. This problem occurs in almost every tenth bit of a crumb. Many parents, faced with this situation, seriously panic. Others, on the contrary, completely underestimate the problem. And meanwhile this pathology - omphalitis in newborns - needs competent and timely treatment. Neglect or delay can result in serious consequences.

Characteristics of pathology

Umbilical wound is a fairly vulnerable place in the newborn. Through it into the body of a crumb can easily penetrate the infection. In this case, inflammation of the navel bottom develops. Pathology can also cover adjacent tissues. Often the inflammation spreads to the umbilical ring with the adjacent vessels, subcutaneous fatty tissue. This is how omphalitis develops in newborns.

Most often the disease manifests itself in the 2nd week of life. As a rule, in most babies, the wound heals by the 7th day. But in case of infection, it does not drag out during these terms. Ranka begins to ooze. In addition, the development of pathology indicates reddened skin near the navel. The tissues are dense enough to touch, the vessels are probed. And from the wound itself, pus may be secreted.

Causes

Why develop omphalitis in newborns? The only reason for the appearance of pathology is the penetration of the infection into the body through the open wound of the navel. In most cases, the culprits of infection are streptococci and staphylococci. But sometimes inflammation can develop as a result of the penetration of gram-negative bacteria, such as diphtheria or E. coli.

The main factors that provoke the development of ailment are:

1. Inadequate or incorrect processing of the navel.
2. Non-compliance with hygiene rules when caring for the baby. The cause of inflammation may be treatment of the wound with dirty hands or untimely bathing of the crumbs after stool.
3. The appearance of diaper dermatitis. When the baby is in the diaper for a long time, contaminated with feces or urine, the skin is sweating excessively. If the child thus rarely takes air and water baths, the condition is greatly aggravated.
4. Airborne droplet transmission. Infection can penetrate the baby from a sick person caring for a baby.
5. Infection with an infectious skin disease. Omphalitis can develop against folliculitis or pyoderma.
6. Infection during delivery. Sometimes infection of the baby occurs when tying the umbilical cord.

Most often, umbilical omphalitis is observed in premature infants, as well as in infants who were born not in hospital conditions (during home births). Often from this disease suffer crumbs, in which there are abnormal congenital pathologies.

Variety of ailment

In a healthy baby, the umbilical cord falls off to 3-4 days of life. After that, the wound is tightened by a bloody crust. It gradually dries up. Complete healing takes place on the 10-14th day of life. In the first week there may be a small amount of discharge from the wound. But by the time of complete healing of the navel, it should be completely dry. If by this time the wound did not heal, there is every reason to assume that omphalitis develops in newborns.

Several pathogens are characteristic for pathology. Depending on the stage of severity, the ailment is classified into:

• Catarrhal;
• purulent;
• Phlegmonous;
• necrotic.

In addition, the disease can be:

• Primary (if it developed as a result of infection of the navel);
• Secondary (when an ailment occurs against the background of already existing anomalies).

Each type of disease is characterized by its symptoms. That's why you need to consider all the forms separately.

Catarrhal omphalitis

This is a simple disease. In the people it is called a "wet belly button".

The pathology is characterized by the following symptoms:

1. Minor discharge from the wound. As a rule, this is how the development of the disease begins. Allocations can be serous. Sometimes a bleeding navel in newborns contains even purulent fragments. Allocations can appear and disappear.
2. Edema of the umbilical ring. This symptom is very often observed in the development of pathology, but it is not mandatory. The umbilical ring turns red, swells. Skin covers shine and stretch.
3. Fungus may appear (it resembles a mushroom-like outgrowth). This is a pale pink solid formation. In most cases, it does not deliver discomfort to the infant, but it can easily be festered by infection. Infection often occurs when the fungus is damaged during swaddling or changing clothes.

With the development of the catarrhal form of the disease the baby feels great. He perfectly sleeps, eats with appetite, gaining weight well.

But the treatment of the disease must begin immediately. If you do not undertake a fight against the disease at this stage, the pathology will begin to progress.

Purulent omphalitis

If treatment was not undertaken at the stage described above, or if the wrong therapy was performed, the disease begins to progress. In this case, purulent pathology develops.

For this stage, the symptoms are:

1. Appears pus. It flows from the umbilical wound. The secretion is characterized by an unpleasant odor.
2. The condition worsens. The child has a fever, the appetite decreases significantly. The baby does not sleep well, is whimsical, constantly pulls up the legs to the tummy. There may be regurgitation, indigestion.
3. Infiltration of the skin, puffiness. In the navel area, redness increases significantly. There is an expansion of veins.
4. The navel of the newborn protrudes over the skin of the skin. In its form it resembles a cone. The touch becomes hot.

In this case, it is necessary to show the baby to the surgeon as soon as possible.

Phlegmonous omphalitis

With further progression of the disease, the inflammatory process covers the blood vessels - arteries and veins. In this case, phlegmonous omphalitis is observed.

It is characterized by such symptoms:

1. The state of the child is significantly deteriorating. He refuses his breast, loses weight. Kroha is extremely anxious, he has a digestive disorder. Pathology is accompanied by a high temperature, sometimes reaching 40 degrees.
2. Inflammation is pronounced. The navel of the newborn is red, swollen. It is hot to the touch, constantly wet, it protrudes considerably over the covers.
3. The focus of inflammation increases. Around the convex navel there are red swollen tissues. In their configuration, they resemble the shape of an octopus or jellyfish.
4. In the purulent wound, the course to the ulcer is determined. With pressure on nearby covers increases the excretion of pus.

With such pathology, the risk of spreading phlegmon to the abdominal tissues is high.

Necrotic omphalitis

This is the most severe stage of the disease.

It is manifested by the following symptoms:

1. Phlegmon acquires a blue-red or purple color.
2. A hole appears in the navel. Through it, the intestine can protrude.
3. Exfoliation of tissues is observed. Under them a huge wound gaped.
4. The child is apathetic, listless. The temperature can drop dramatically.

Necrotic omphalitis in children can lead to dangerous complications, one of which is sepsis.

Diagnosis of the disease

The definition of pathology does not cause difficulties. The doctor will put the initial diagnosis right away, as soon as he looks at the bleeding navel of newborns.

To exclude the development of complications, additional examinations will be performed:

• Ultrasound of peritoneum, soft tissues;
• X-ray with a survey study.

The baby is sure to be sent to a consultation with a pediatric surgeon.

In addition, it is assigned bakposev. This allows you to identify the causative agent of the infection. This analysis will give the opportunity to select the most accurate antibacterial therapy.

Omphalitis: treatment of the catarrhal form

At home, you can only fight this stage of the disease.

Therapy includes the following activities:

1. Umbilical wound should be treated 4 times a day.
2. Initially, it drips a solution of hydrogen peroxide - 2-3 drops. Then, using hygiene sticks, the contents are removed.
3. After this procedure, an antiseptic measure is performed. The wound is treated with such drugs as "Furacilin", "Chlorophyllipt", "Dioxydin". You can use green.
4. It is especially important to know how to bathe a baby. It should not be forgotten that the infant is in great need of water procedures. However, for this pathology, doctors recommend that before bathing crumbs, add a little potassium permanganate to the bath. Water should be a pale pink shade.

Treatment of severe stages

With a progressive disease most often struggling in a hospital.

The following measures are taken for treatment:

1. Purpose of local antiseptic ointments. Recommended "Baneocin", liniment Vishnevsky. They are used for dressing on the wound.
2. Antibiotic therapy. Sometimes it is prescribed to cut the foci of inflammation. Antibiotics are selected according to the results of bapsoseva.
3. Cauterization of fungus. For such an event, silver nitrate is used.
4. Drainage of wound. A special tube inserted into the navel provides a good outflow of pus.
5. If necessary, the baby is prescribed vitamin therapy and medications that promote immunity.

In some cases, surgery is considered to remove necrotic tissue.

Conclusion

Parents should carefully and very responsibly approach the care of the newborn. And if the navel does not heal 10-14 days after birth, it is necessary to show the doctor a crumb. Omphalitis can lead to quite severe consequences. But timely and adequate therapy allows you to quickly cure pathology, which in the future will not affect either health or the baby's well-being.