Why does the belly button smell bad_The belly button suddenly smells bad

If your belly button suddenly develops a bad smell, it may be caused by a symptom called omphalitis. Omphalitis is a symptom that many people suffer from. This symptom is quite harmful to human health. Whether it is omphalitis in children or adults, certain methods need to be taken to treat it. Next, I will introduce to you the complications and treatments of omphalitis!

1. Your belly button suddenly smells bad

It could be omphalitis. Omphalitis is a bacterial infection of the umbilical stump. Depending on the age of onset, omphalitis can be divided into adult omphalitis and neonatal omphalitis, and divided into acute omphalitis and chronic omphalitis. Acute omphalitis is an acute cellulitis of the periumbilical tissue. If the infection progresses, it may be complicated by abdominal wall cellulitis and may also develop into a periumbilical abscess, and there is a risk of complications such as peritonitis and sepsis. The pathogenic bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus, etc. Chronic omphalitis is a chronic inflammation of the umbilicus caused by irregular and prolonged treatment of acute omphalitis, or by unhealed wounds and local stimulation from foreign bodies left after the umbilical cord falls off in newborns.

2. Complications of omphalitis

Newborns have low immunity. If the umbilical inflammation is not controlled, it can spread around the umbilicus to form abdominal wall cellulitis or spread along the lymphatic vessels, leading to a large area of ​​abdominal wall infection and even extending to the lower chest wall; spreading deep can cause peritonitis; it can cause deep abdominal wall infection through the umbilical arteries and veins that have not yet been closed, or directly enter the blood circulation to cause liver abscess, sepsis, toxic shock, and can also cause umbilical vein thrombosis. If the thrombus extends to the portal vein, it causes portal vein obstruction, and later develops into extrahepatic portal hypertension.

3. Treatment of omphalitis

1. Acute phase management

Control infection by keeping the area dry.

(1) Treatment of mild cases: Remove local scabs and use 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and 75% ethanol for cleaning at any time; adults can use hot saline compresses; keep the navel dry.

(2) Abscess treatment: When the abscess is not localized, golden ointment can be applied around the navel or physical therapy can be performed to limit the infection, promote the formation of abscesses and rupture them outwards. After an abscess is formed, it should be incised and drained.

(3) Treatment of systemic infection: Patients with a large amount of pus, or complicated by peritonitis and sepsis should be given adequate doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as penicillin, and effective antibiotics should be selected based on the results of bacteriological examination.

(4) Supportive therapy: When systemic infection occurs, attention should be paid to replenishing water and electrolytes. In order to enhance the body's immunity, fresh whole blood, plasma or albumin can be appropriately given.

2. Chronic phase treatment

Small granulation wounds can be cauterized with 10% silver nitrate and then coated with antibiotic ointment. Large granulation wounds can be surgically excised or electrocauterized to remove the granulation tissue. Keep the navel clean and dry to help it heal. It is not advisable to use talcum powder on wounds with secretions to avoid stimulating granulation tissue proliferation.