Infection of the belly button (omphalitis) most commonly occurs in newborn babies. Adults can get an infection of the navel (umbilicus) but it's uncommon. There are many reasons your belly button may become red, swollen or have discharge, and it may not be a skin issue.
Belly button infections occur when bacteria or fungi infect the skin of the belly button. This can happen due to poor hygiene, ingrown hairs or an allergic reaction to jewelry or other objects that come into contact with the area.
The most common symptom of a belly button yeast infection is a bright red rash in the skin folds of your navel. The rash is typically extremely itchy. It may burn. You may also see scaling, swelling or a white discharge.
But sometimes these cysts can rupture and become infected, the Mayo Clinic says. If you have an infected epidermoid cyst lurking in your belly button, it will probably look red, feel painful, and may have a smelly yellow or green discharge, Dr. Kaminska says.
If you think you have an infection in your belly button, you should call your doctor so that you can have the area cleaned carefully. You may also need prescription antibiotics to kill the bacteria before it spread to other parts of your body.
If you develop redness, swelling, pain, or discharge, your belly button could be infected. This is especially likely if you have a navel piercing. In this case, you may require antibiotics or other treatment and should visit UPMC Urgent Care right away.
Broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics are required to treat omphalitis. Antibiotic coverage should be directed against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Initial empiric treatment with antistaphylococcal penicillin and aminoglycoside is recommended.
Diabetic patients are prone to infections, and the disease may also prevent rapid healing of infections. Diabetics with belly button infections may suffer from an unpleasant smell emanating from the belly button, as well as oozing of cheese-like fluids.
Infections are the most common cause of belly button discharge. People who have recently had abdominal surgery may be at risk. Cysts are another cause of belly button discharge. Treating belly button discharge depends on the cause.
“If you stick a fingernail in there and really scrape to get the fluff out, that can break the skin and could lead to an infection,” he explains. Some people also clean their belly buttons with cotton swabs soaked in alcohol, which he says can cause dryness and irritation.
As you can see in the picture below, the belly button normally isn't connected to anything in adults. It does play an important role for developing fetuses, however. This photo shows what the belly button looks like from inside the abdomen. As you can see, it is not attached to anything in the body.
If the belly button becomes infected, a person should see a doctor for advice and prescribe medication if needed. The symptoms of an infection are redness, itching, and swelling. Sometimes, there may be fluid or pus, which can harden to form a crust around the area.
Antifungal creams: These are the most commonly prescribed treatment for belly button yeast infections. They work by killing the yeast that is causing your infection. Some of the most common antifungal creams used include clotrimazole, miconazole, and ketoconazole.
If your belly button is “leaking” clear or colored discharge or blood, you may have a bacterial, fungal, or yeast infection. Crusty skin, strong odor, itching, and redness are also signs of infection. If discharge and crust stick around after you wash your belly button, you should see your doctor.
Internally the veins and arteries in the cord close up and form ligaments, which are tough connective tissues. These ligaments divide up the liver into sections and remain attached to the inside of the belly button.
Erythema, edema, and tenderness to palpation of the umbilicus should raise suspicion of infection at the level of the umbilical stump [1]. Discharge from the umbilicus may or may not be present.
Red skin spreading from around the navel. Abdominal swelling. Cloudy foul-smelling discharge from the infected region. Fever (do not give your baby any fever medicine without approval from the pediatrician)
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
UTIs are more common in females than males. However, anyone, including children, can get a UTI. UTIs can cause pain in the abdomen and bellybutton. Bacteria cause UTIs, and doctors treat them with antibiotics.
The shape and dent of your navel essentially determines how the umbilical cord heals. Belly buttons don't necessarily mean anything in particular about your health, however some people would argue that your belly button says a lot about you as a person.” Belly buttons are low-key gross.
The most common is infection, but fungal growth can be the source too. Sometimes belly button bleeding is a result of injury. Whatever the cause may be, there is significant risk to your health if you let the issue go untreated. Your doctor will examine you and may order tests to determine the cause of your bleeding.