Community Nursing Service

Care of Umbilical Granuloma in Babies

CHS178

Department of Health and Social CareRheynn Slaynt as Kiarail y Theay

What is umbilical granuloma?

Umbilical granuloma is:

• an overgrowing of tissue during the healing process of the belly button(umbilicus)

• it may look like a soft pink wet cherry-red mass

• it is often wet or leaks small amounts of clear or yellow fluid

• it is most common in the first few weeks of a babies life

General care of the belly button

1. Keep the belly button clean and dry

2. Cleanse the belly button if it gets soiled with urine/faecies with soapand warm water

3. Expose the belly button to the air by rolling back the top of the nappy

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If an infection is suspected

If your baby’s belly button is showing signs of infection, the belly button isred, possibly having an offensive smell and discharge, contact your GP forfurther details on treatment.

How is an umbilical granulona treated?

If there is an umbilical granuloma with no obvious signs of infection thenyou can treat your baby at home with table salt or cooking salt.

Common salt has been found to be an effective and safe treatment. Washyour hands before following the steps below:

1. Apply a small pinch of table/cooking salt onto the umbilical granuloma

2. Cover the area with gauze dressing and hold it in place for 10-30minutes. It may be easier to do this when your baby is sleeping

3. Then clean the site using a clean gauze dressing soaked in warmwater

4. You should repeat the procedure twice a day for at least two days

5. See your GP, health visitor or practice nurse after one week

6. If the umbilical granuloma does not respond to treatment then thehealth professional will consider the need for any further treatment

How does it work?

In approximately two to three daysyou should notice that the granularreduces in size, it may changecolour, dry off and the area willgradually heal.

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The Information in this booklet can be provided in large printor in audio format on request.

Department of Health and Social CareCrookall House, Demesne RoadDouglas, Isle of Man IM1 3QA

Telephone: 01624 642602Fax: 01624 642653

Printed by Bridson & Horrox www.gov.im/health Review: September 2017

Department of Health and Social CareRheynn Slaynt as Kiarail y Theay