Umbilical granuloma is the most common umbilical abnormality in newborn children or neonates, causing inflammation and drainage. It may appear in the first few weeks of newborn infants during the healing process of the umbilical cord due to an umbilical mass. It is the overgrowth of the umbilical tissue.
An umbilical granuloma is the most common umbilical mass in the neonatal period. Though the exact cause is not known, this pink friable mass is thought to be formed due to excessive inflammation in the base of the umbilical cord likely due to infection which may result in delayed cord separation.
It's usually a minor problem that looks worse than it is. An umbilical granuloma does not cause pain. It may ooze a small amount of fluid that can make the skin around it red and irritated. Your child's doctor may treat the granuloma if it doesn't go away by itself.
It can be simply and safely treated by applying ordinary household salt. Apply a small pinch of table or cooking salt to the granuloma and cover it with gauze for 10 minutes. It may help to tuck the gauze into your baby's nappy to keep it in place.
What to Expect: With treatment, the granuloma usually will shrink and go away within 1 week.
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a genetic disorder in which white blood cells called phagocytes are unable to kill certain types of bacteria and fungi. People with CGD are highly susceptible to frequent and sometimes life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections.
Don't put your baby in bathwater until the granuloma has healed. Instead, bathe your baby with a sponge or damp washcloth. Watch for signs of infection. See “When to call your child's healthcare provider” below.
Umbilical hernias are covered with skin, which helps distinguish them from granulomas and polyps. Although considered congenital, umbilical hernias developing during infancy usually are not apparent at birth. Umbilical hernias occur more often in premature infants and those of African American descent.
Treating Umbilical Granulomas
Silver nitrate: Umbilical granulomas in babies don't have nerve endings, so they can be treated with a small amount of silver nitrate. The doctor will place the silver nitrate on the granuloma, and it will burn off the tissue. Your baby will not feel any pain during the process.
Although granulomas may appear cancerous, they are not — they are benign. Occasionally, however, granulomas are found in people who also have particular cancers, such as skin lymphomas. So it is important to consult a doctor if you notice persistent lumps on your skin or have other symptoms of illness.
Outlook (Prognosis) Most pyogenic granulomas can be removed. A scar may remain after treatment. There is a high chance that the problem will come back if the whole lesion is not removed or destroyed during treatment.
The main clinical symptoms are umbilical discharge and swelling. Physical examination shows a small, moist, fragile and pinkish/red lesion at the umbilicus. Besides some benign soft tissue tumors, vitellin duct anomalies or urachal remnants should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Most umbilical hernias are nothing to worry about, and go away without medical treatment by the time a child is 4–5 years old. Surgery is done only if: the hernia doesn't close by age 4 or 5. the hernia becomes incarcerated (can't be easily reduced)
Umbilical granulomas are the most common cause of umbilical mass in neonates. They become apparent after the umbilical stump separates. They often are smooth and pedunculated but can have an irregular surface. They usually are 3 to 10 mm in size, beefy red in appearance, and soft, moist, and friable.
If there is continuous stickiness or discharge, it may be infected and you should show your doctor or child health nurse. Sometimes the belly button does not heal completely and moist red tissue forms over the stump site, which may form a small lump. This is called a 'granuloma'.
Histologically, umbilical polyps are characterized by glandular structures lined by ectopic intestinal mucosa. Umbilical granulomas predominantly consist of fibroblasts, abundant small vessels, and endothelial and inflammatory cells that lack neural elements.
Treating umbilical granuloma with topical clobetasol propionate cream at home is as effective as treating it with topical silver nitrate in the clinic.
The most common infectious cause of granulomas is tuberculosis. But other bacterial infections, fungal infections, parasites and viruses can also cause granulomas, including: Aspergillosis. Blastomycosis.
Granuloma annulare is a rash that often looks like a ring of small pink, purple or skin-coloured bumps. It usually appears on the back of the hands, feet, elbows or ankles. The rash is not usually painful, but it can be slightly itchy. It's not contagious and usually gets better on its own within a few months.
Salt application to PG creates a hyperosmolar tissue environment that leads to lesion shrinkage due to a desiccant effect. Salt has also been used to treat umbilical granulomas with an efficacy comparable to that achieved with silver nitrate, copper sulfate, and surgery.
Granuloma formation may be divided into four phases: initiation, accumulation, effector, and resolution.