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7 Weeks Old With Open Belly Button, Yellowish Discharge. White Discharge After Treating With Silver Nitrate. Normal?
hi, doctor
My son is today 7 weeks old, his belly button is still open, we can see a tiny pink ball in it, with some yellow discharge on and off, no bad smell. today we took him to see the PD, PD use silver nitrate treat the belly button. The belly button became dark, after we got home, my son's belly button has some white water like discharge.
I have 2 questions: 1. is this white discharge normal after the silver nitrate treatment? 2. PD also priscribed taro-mopirocin, asking us to use if the area get infefted. my question is how can we tell if the area is infected, since now it becomes dark, we can not see the color.
thank you very much, my email address: YYYY@YYYY
My son is today 7 weeks old, his belly button is still open, we can see a tiny pink ball in it, with some yellow discharge on and off, no bad smell. today we took him to see the PD, PD use silver nitrate treat the belly button. The belly button became dark, after we got home, my son's belly button has some white water like discharge.
I have 2 questions: 1. is this white discharge normal after the silver nitrate treatment? 2. PD also priscribed taro-mopirocin, asking us to use if the area get infefted. my question is how can we tell if the area is infected, since now it becomes dark, we can not see the color.
thank you very much, my email address: YYYY@YYYY
Mon, 8 Apr 2013
Hello
Thank you for placing your query with Health Care Magic
Your description seems to indicate an umbilical granuloma. Umbilical granuloma forms as a result of improper healing or minor infection during healing of the cord. By using silver nitrate sticks we basically try to destroy the unhealthy tissue in that region. Usually silver nitrate may be required to be repeated, as single application may not be sufficient. But if your son does respond then it would be great. But some discharge may persist even after application and repeat use may be required. You will know if its infected in case the discharge becomes thick and foul smelling, the region becomes red and your son cries on touch and if he develops fever. Hope it does not happen.
However there are certain other things which may cause such a red spot in the belly button. Sometimes it may be communication with the intestine (partial or complete) or with the urinary bladder. If the discharge persists, is foul smelling or looks like stool, then immediately consult a pediatric surgeon. It is important because these conditions (patent vitello intestinal duct: with intestine and patent urachus: with bladder) require surgical correction.
Hope that solves your query.
God bless you
Thank you for placing your query with Health Care Magic
Your description seems to indicate an umbilical granuloma. Umbilical granuloma forms as a result of improper healing or minor infection during healing of the cord. By using silver nitrate sticks we basically try to destroy the unhealthy tissue in that region. Usually silver nitrate may be required to be repeated, as single application may not be sufficient. But if your son does respond then it would be great. But some discharge may persist even after application and repeat use may be required. You will know if its infected in case the discharge becomes thick and foul smelling, the region becomes red and your son cries on touch and if he develops fever. Hope it does not happen.
However there are certain other things which may cause such a red spot in the belly button. Sometimes it may be communication with the intestine (partial or complete) or with the urinary bladder. If the discharge persists, is foul smelling or looks like stool, then immediately consult a pediatric surgeon. It is important because these conditions (patent vitello intestinal duct: with intestine and patent urachus: with bladder) require surgical correction.
Hope that solves your query.
God bless you
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