Question
Six days after birth, the parents began disinfecting the baby’s umbilical area daily. However, they discovered signs of infection and were diagnosed with umbilical inflammation at the hospital, requiring special treatment. How should neonatal umbilical inflammation be handled?
Answer
Umbilical inflammation refers to acute Cellulitis of the umbilical area. If the infection worsens, it may develop into complex abdominal Cellulitis, or even form an umbilical abscess, accompanied by peritonitis and sepsis. If white pus appears in the neonatal umbilical area, immediate treatment with an umbilical band disinfectant should be administered, and antiseptic treatment should be carried out daily until the umbilical cord falls off. At the same time, the baby’s other body parts should also be cleaned regularly, as neonates have a faster metabolism.