Newborns are a population group whose he alth needs to be carefully protected. To this end, doctors observe newly born children in a specialized medical institution (perinatal centers), and then carry out patronage during the first month of life. At the slightest symptoms of the disease, newborns are hospitalized in a hospital. This proves that not only the baby's parents are interested in his he alth, but also it is protected by the state. The most common diseases in the first days and weeks of a child's life are navel fungus and omphalitis. They can be diagnosed even in the hospital. They are most often discovered during the first month of life.
What is umbilical fungus?
Fungus of the navel in newborns is common. This disease is common throughout the world in both boys and girls. Usually parents notice it when they bathe the baby and process the umbilical residue. The high incidence of this part of the body in newborns is due to the fact that this place has long connected mother and child andcontributed to nutrition. In the first minutes of life, the umbilical cord is cut off, leaving a cult in its place. Normally, it quickly dries up and disappears. But in some cases, the wound heals for a long time, as an infection gets into it. The fungus of the navel is an overgrowth of granulation tissue. It develops as often as omphalitis. In some cases, the granulations may become infected. This is due to the penetration of bacteria into the tissue. Then complications of the disease are possible.
Fungus of the navel in newborns: causes of appearance
Growth of granulation tissue is not an infectious process. Rather, it is considered an individual adaptive feature of the organism. There are no definite reasons for the development of fungus. The growth of granulations is most often associated with a wide umbilical ring in a baby. After the stump falls off, the free space begins to fill with fungus. Another reason for its appearance may be a wide umbilical cord. Both of these factors do not belong to pathological conditions, but are features of the body. However, the growth of granulation tissue itself is not considered the norm. Therefore, the fungus of the navel must be treated. Despite the fact that this disease is considered harmless, its complications are dangerous for the he alth of the baby.
How does the umbilical fungus develop?
The development of fungus means the appearance of excess granulation tissue, which begins its growth from the umbilical cord. Predisposing factors shouldcarry a large body weight of the newborn, prematurity. The main reason is the wide umbilical ring. The development of granulation begins after the stump has fallen off. Normally, the umbilical cord falls off quickly. With the development of fungus, a small part remains of it. This unhealed umbilical cord gives rise to granulation tissue that begins to fill the annulus. The process can stop on its own without affecting the condition of the baby. However, this does not always happen. In some cases, granulations completely fill the umbilical ring and begin to go beyond it. This leads not only to a cosmetic defect, but also represents a danger. When the infection is attached, inflammation of the umbilical ring develops - omphalitis. As a result, bacteria can enter the arterial bloodstream and cause sepsis.
Symptoms of navel fungus
The clinical picture of the fungus of the navel depends on the degree of growth of granulations. At the initial stage of the disease, there are practically no symptoms. Only a slight increase in the umbilical residue inside the ring is noticeable. With further growth of granulation tissue, a tumor-like formation is observed. First, it fills the umbilical ring, and then goes beyond it. As a result, a classic example of fungus is observed - mushroom-like growth of granulations. Education originates in the umbilical ring and can occupy a significant surface of the anterior abdominal wall. In addition to this symptom, the clinical picture of the fungus is mild. In rare cases it maythere is an increase in body temperature and a slight deterioration in the condition. In newborns, these symptoms are expressed in tearfulness when processing the navel, poor sleep, and refusal of the breast. These manifestations should alert parents, as they are often observed with the development of omphalitis.
Diagnosis of fungus in newborns
Fungus is often confused with other diseases of the umbilical wound. Among them are catarrhal and purulent omphalitis, hernial protrusion, lipoma. When diagnosing, it is important to conduct a thorough survey of the baby's parents. It is necessary to find out how long the growth of granulation tissue began, whether the fungus is increasing in size, how the child reacts to bathing and processing the umbilical region. It is also important to check for other symptoms. A sharp deterioration in the child's condition often indicates complications that have developed against the background of fungus. If inflammation has developed in the umbilical wound, then the following symptoms join:
- Appearance of serous or purulent discharge.
- Hyperemia and edema.
- Pain when pressing on the fungus area. It is expressed by crying, by the sharp mobility of the baby.
- Increased body temperature.
- No breastfeeding.
These symptoms are dangerous for newborns. When they appear, you must immediately seek medical help. Laboratory tests are carried out in the hospital. With uncomplicated fungus, no changes are observed in the KLA and OAM. If there are inflammatory phenomena (leukocytosis, accelerated ESR), then this means thatomphalitis. In this case, the discharge from the umbilical wound is taken for analysis in order to identify the causative agent of inflammation and prescribe treatment. In some cases, fungus can be confused with other formations. If the doctor has doubts, an ultrasound of the soft tissues of the abdomen is performed. Most often, the doctor quickly diagnoses the fungus of the navel in newborns. Photos of this pathology are placed in the special medical literature on neonatology. However, parents should not draw conclusions on their own. If granulations appear, you should consult a doctor.
Fungus of the navel in a newborn: how to treat the disease?
The choice of fungus treatment method depends on the size of the formation and the general condition of the baby. For small granulations that do not tend to grow, observation is recommended. If the fungus increases, then you need to get rid of it. In most cases, for this purpose, cauterization of granulations with nitrogen, silver lapis is performed. If there is a fungus of the navel in newborns, treatment (operation) is carried out in the department of pediatric surgery. The child must be hospitalized and examined before the intervention. The operation consists in removing granulation tissue and washing the umbilical ring with antibiotic solutions.
Fungus prevention in newborns
Fungus of the navel cannot be foreseen in advance, since its appearance depends on individual characteristics. Nevertheless, it is possible to prevent inflammatory changes that develop against its background. To do this, it is necessary to monitor the statebaby, bathe the newborn daily and treat the umbilical wound with a solution of hydrogen peroxide. In case of inflammation, you should consult a doctor.
Complications and prognosis of the disease
Complication of fungus is omphalitis. Inflammation of the umbilical wound is very dangerous, as it is one of the main causes of sepsis. In the absence of complications, fungus is not a severe pathology and usually does not affect the baby's condition. However, with rapid growth of granulations, the formation must be removed.
