Question
My baby is 10 days old. The umbilical cord fell off on the 7th day. When bathing, water got into the area after the cord fell off. Disinfection was not thorough enough. Today, I noticed some pus and a foul odor. After lunch, I plan to take my baby to the pediatrician, but I’m not sure which department to visit?
Answer
You can make an appointment with the pediatric department for your baby’s umbilical hernia. The wound left after the umbilical cord is cut is prone to infection, especially during hot summer months when umbilical hernias are more common. This requires parents to pay attention to the care of their baby’s wound and to frequently observe its condition. Even if your baby accidentally develops an umbilical hernia, parents should not be overly anxious. As long as proper disinfection is maintained, it can recover without complications. The main symptoms include sticky discharge, purulent secretions, and an odor from the umbilical cord area, along with redness in the umbilical cord pouch.