Why does the navel become wet with an adult?

If an adult has unpleasant smelling discharge from the navel - what would that mean and what to do? Doctors note two main reasons why the navel becomes wet in an adult - this is omphalitis and umbilical fistula. Noticing the alarming symptoms, you should immediately contact a surgeon for timely treatment.

Omphalitis is an inflammatory lesion of the subcutaneous tissue and skin around the navel, characterized by swelling, reddening of the skin of the umbilical zone, and various in intensity excretions from the navel. Often the infection covers the umbilical vessels, which leads to the phlebitis or arteritis of these vessels. The disease can be fungal or bacterial in nature. Most often, the causative agent of omphalitis is Staphylococcus aureus. There is a simple, phlegmonous and necrotic form of the disease, in which the navel becomes wet in an adult.

Most often, adults have a simple omphalitis. In this case, the patient feels generally good, noting only the wet navel and the related inconveniences. As a rule, the discharge is a serous or purulent-serous fluid, which dries up with a crust near the navel. The causes of such secretions are bacterial or fungal infections associated with the features of the navel's structure. So, with a retracted and narrow umbilical canal, the separation of dead cells of the epithelium and the products of the sebaceous glands is difficult, which can lead to infections with unsatisfactory personal hygiene. Some medical specialists consider piercing one of the reasons for the development of omphalitis. If the navel flows, then you need to see a doctor. With simple omphalitis, outpatient treatment is carried out, which consists in treating the ducking navel with antiseptic or cauterizing solutions, using antifungal or antimicrobial ointments, depending on the nature of the inflammation, the appointment of physiotherapy procedures. With a simple form of the disease, the prognosis is usually favorable.

Much less common in adults is phlegmonous and necrotic omphalitis.

With phlegmonous form, the tissues around the navel are inflamed, redness, denseness, soreness, purulent discharge from the navel, increase in body temperature. A phlegmon of the abdominal wall may develop.

Necrotic (gangrenous) omphalitis develops very rarely and is a complication of the phlegmonous form. With this form, the infection enters the abdominal cavity, necrosis and exfoliation of dead tissue occurs. Necrotizing omphalitis is dangerous for the development of septicemia of umbilical, peritonitis, hematogenous osteomyelitis.

With phlegmonous and gangrenous omphalitis complex intensive treatment is performed. As a rule, prescribe treatment of the affected area with antiseptic means, bandages with wound healing and antibacterial ointments, antibiotics intramuscularly, physiotherapy procedures. Sometimes surgical intervention is necessary - dissection of abscesses. With necrotic form, injections of gamma globulin, vitamin therapy, blood transfusion are carried out .

Another reason why the navel becomes wet in an adult is the umbilical fistula. This pathology is in most cases congenital and is characterized by an unprotected urinary or yolk-intestinal duct. With an unprotected urinary duct, a vesicle-umbilical fistula is formed, through which urine is excreted. If the yolk duct is not infected, then there is an entero-umbilical fistula with secretions from the intestine. If there is inflammation, the discharge becomes purulent.

Sometimes there are acquired fistulas, which are formed when the anterior wall of the peritoneum is inflamed and the abscess is opened through the navel.

Most often the treatment consists in excision of the fistula and suturing holes in the wall of the bowel or bladder. Non-surgical treatment is possible only in the absence of discharge from the navel.

If the navel becomes wet in an adult person, then in no case should one engage in self-medication, which can lead to only a slight temporary effect.