Umbilical granulomas occur when the cord falls off and the remaining tissue underneath fails to form skin over it. It is a relatively common condition.
What are the symptoms?
- It appears as a pink, moist knob of tissue inside the navel.
- There will often be slight wetness or drainage, mostly seen on clothes.
What causes an umbilical granuloma?
There is no known cause; however, infection or other conditions that delay cord separation make a granuloma more likely.
What should I expect?
The umbilicus remains moist, with moisture seen as spots on clothes or around the navel. The fluid can be clear or slightly blood-tinged.
How is it treated?
It is treated by applying silver nitrate to cauterize it. Sometimes several treatments are necessary, once or twice a week for several weeks. The tissue does not have nerves and so treatment is painless, It occasionally stains the skin which usually goes away over time.
What complications should I look for?
There are not usually any complications. You should always watch for signs of infection (redness, swelling) around the umbilicus. Umbilical polyps can be confused with granulomas; polyps are more rare and larger than granulomas. They fail to respond to granuloma treatment.
How can umbilical granulomas be prevented?
There is no known way to prevent them.
When should I seek further care?
Seek immediate care if your child
- Has redness or swelling of the skin around the navel
- Has pus draining from the navel
Call your doctor if:
- There is wetness or drainage from a pink knob of tissue in the umbilicus several days after the cord falls off.