Umbilical granuloma in babies

When your baby is born, their umbilical cord is clamped and cut. The small part of the umbilical cord that is still attached to your baby is called the 'umbilical stump' or 'umbilical cord stump'.

Your baby's belly button forms when their umbilical cord stump falls off several days after birth. Your baby's belly button is also known as their 'umbilicus'.

Sometimes, moist red tissue can form over the umbilical stump area. This can form a small lump and is called an 'umbilical granuloma'.

Umbilical granulomas are common in babies.

If your baby has an umbilical granuloma, you may notice some pink or red tissue at the base of their umbilical stump (where their cord stump fell off). The tissue is moist and soft.

An umbilical granuloma may ooze a small amount of clear or yellow fluid.

Umbilical granulomas are usually painless.

The exact cause of umbilical granulomas is not known. It may be related to an infection.

See your doctor or child health nurse if your baby's belly button is not healing well.

See your doctor straight away if:

• there is pus or a bad smell coming from the area
• the area around the belly button is warm and red
• your baby has a fever (temperature above 38°C)
• your baby is unusually tired, drowsy or irritable
• an umbilical granuloma is not improving or getting worse

These may be signs of infection.

Your doctor will be able to diagnose an umbilical granuloma by examining your child. No tests are needed.

Umbilical granulomas may slowly heal on their own if you keep your baby's belly button clean and dry.

To help an umbilical granuloma to heal, your doctor may recommend salt treatment.

Salt treatment involves:

1. Cleaning your baby's belly button area with warm water and drying the area.
2. Applying a small pinch of table or cooking salt to their umbilical granuloma.
3. Covering the area with a dry gauze dressing for 30 minutes to keep the salt on.
4. After 30 minutes, removing the salt using a cotton ball that has been soaked in warm water.
5. Making sure the area is kept clean and dry.

This procedure can be done 2 times a day for 3 to 5 days. Keep your baby's belly button clean and completely dry between salt treatments.

The granuloma should start to get smaller and dry out. The area should gradually heal. You may notice that it changes colour. If your baby's umbilical granuloma doesn't improve after salt treatment, see your doctor.

Do not try to pick the granuloma off.

Sometimes, topical treatment may be applied to the granuloma by your doctor. Surgery is sometimes recommended to remove an umbilical granuloma.

If an umbilical granuloma (or the cord stump) becomes infected, your baby can become unwell. Signs of an infection can include:

• redness and warmth around the belly button area
• a bad smell coming from the belly button area
• fluid leaking from the area
• fever (a temperature above 38°C)

See your doctor or child health nurse if you are concerned about your baby's belly button healing.

The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network has a factsheet on umbilical granuloma.

The Queensland Government has information on umbilical granulomas.