About four children face an ailment such as umbilical fistula. You can get sick in childhood and in adulthood. Fistula of the navel in a newborn is formed during healing. Adults face a fistula with inflammation of the abdominal region.
What is a navel fistula
A fistula is a hole in the navel that goes to the internal organs. To determine that the wound passes through, you can use a medical probe. It is inserted into the hole. If the probe goes more than 1.5 centimeters, then they say from the umbilical fistula.
When cutting the umbilical cord, the newborn has a small wound that heals within 2-3 weeks. In the early days, small discharge is observed, but then they pass. If the succession does not stop or its amount increases, then they suggest the presence of a fistula. Depending on the closure of the duct, there are full and incomplete fistulas.
With the full version, the duct is fully open. There are purulent discharge and the skin turns red around the navel, partially dies.
Incomplete fistula occurs with incomplete closure of the duct, discharge is insignificant, but they do not stop with time.
An inexperienced parent can easily confuse a navel fistula in a newborn with a long healing navel. Therefore, the pediatrician and the nurse at the reception must evaluate how the navel heals.
Fistula Symptoms
Fistula in a newborn is an opening that does not heal in any way. But to see the parent deepening is almost impossible. First of all, you need to know the signs in order to understand what the navel fistula looks like in a newborn. Symptoms of a complete and incomplete fistula may vary.
Signs of a complete umbilical vesicle fistula:
- at the bottom of the navel, a bright red sucrose forms;
- urine or feces is released from the navel;
- prolonged irritation with secretions leads to reddening of the skin and its death on the stomach;
- body temperature rises;
- the presence of an unpleasant odor;
- part of the small intestine may appear in the umbilical wound;
- the umbilical wound sticks out from tension during crying or screaming.
With an incomplete fistula of the navel of the newborn, the symptoms occur as follows:
- the navel has visual changes, loses a rounded shape;
- purulent or mucous discharge;
- temperature rises;
- the discharge has an unpleasant odor.
Causes of occurrence
The causes of the pathology are still unclear. Fistula can form in the baby a few months after the wound has healed. The umbilical cord connected in utero the baby with the mother. During cutting, a small tail remains on the stomach of the child. The yolk duct should overgrow, but this does not always happen. An open duct that does not heal becomes a fistula.
Doctors identify the causes of a navel fistula in a newborn, which increase the risk of developing pathology:
- muscle weakness of the abdominal wall;
- violation when cutting the umbilical cord;
- pinch of umbilical hernia;
- damage to the small intestine.
These factors prevent the formation of connective tissue in the hole. Such a pathology is common, a partial fistula does not always require treatment and can go away on its own, after a few months.
Types of fistulas
Fistula of the navel in a newborn is most often umbilical-intestinal and umbilical-cystic. Thus, it is possible to determine where the hole is located - between the wound and the intestines or bladder.
Umbilical-intestinal fistulas have a second name - fistula of the bile duct. During cutting of the umbilical cord, the bile duct should form, but for some reason this does not happen. In this case, the umbilical process in the baby lasts a long time, after falling off, a hole appears inside which the red or pink mucous membrane, on which the liquid is located, is clearly visible. In the case of a complete fistula, feces can be found in the passage.
Bubble-umbilical fistulas appear when the urinary tract is not overgrown. In appearance, the hole is no different from others. It is lined with red mucosa and has discharge. When the child is stressed, drops of urine come out of the navel. The stronger the baby is pushing, the more intense the discharge. With a large size of the fistula, urine can drain in full.
Causes of the cystic umbilical and umbilical intestinal fistulas
Fistula of the navel in a newborn can be congenital and appear as a result of a severe pregnancy or acquired against the background of inflammation or surgery.
In a newborn, pathology is diagnosed in the first weeks of life. Incomplete fistula is formed as a result of tissue non-growth, which should close the vitelline duct. This condition is quite common among infants and disappears within 6 months.
A complete fistula is formed with a violation of connective tissue or infectious inflammation. A large hole facilitates the penetration of bacteria and increases the risk of complications. In this case, there is practically no chance that the fistula will grow. In this case, an operation is required.
In adults and children, fistula can form as a result of prolonged infectious inflammation in the abdomen. A purulent mass appears through the wound, the wound bleeds and emits a fetid odor. In this case, the risk of intestinal obstruction increases.
Diagnosis and treatment methods
Doctors can present a preliminary diagnosis to a child in the latter stages of pregnancy or at birth. An accurate diagnosis is made according to the results of abdominal ultrasound or fistulography.
Another method for diagnosing a through hole is a probe that is inserted into the navel. If the equipment has gone inside more than 1.5 cm, then the diagnosis is confirmed.
How to treat navel fistula in newborns depends on the type of passage. Incomplete fistula is treated with conservative methods that enhance tissue regeneration and prevent inflammation. These include a weak solution of potassium permanganate, treatment with hydrogen peroxide and a solution of chlorophyllipt. All these drugs are included in the list of newborns needed in the medicine cabinet.
A shallow incomplete fistula overgrows within 6 months, if this did not happen, then a scheduled operation is prescribed. Before surgery or hole overgrowth, the navel should be regularly examined for inflammation.
A complete fistula of the navel is treated with surgery, conservative methods have no effect due to the constant release of fluid through the navel.
Surgical intervention
The operation of a complete fistula in a newborn is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon dissects the abdominal cavity from the navel to the pubic bone. The doctor sews a hole near the navel. Depending on the type of cavity, restoration of intestinal or bladder defects occurs. In both cases, operations are carried out similarly.
Incomplete fistula is treated with conservative methods, with regular inspection of the navel. With the development of infectious inflammation, an increased risk of infection of the bladder, an operation is performed. With an increase in temperature, a large discharge of pus and redness of the abdomen, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Disease prevention
Prevention of an umbilical fistula does not exist, since the causes are still unclear. But there are a number of rules, observing which you can reduce the risk of infection and prevent the re-occurrence of a through hole in the abdominal cavity:
- Daily thorough hygiene. Bathing the baby during the neonatal period is the main way to keep the body clean. Regular bathing is necessary.
- Before the healing of the umbilical wound and after fusion of the fistula, the newborn is bathed only in boiled water.
- If necessary, add potassium permanganate to the bath. This contributes to the disinfection of water.
- Do not let the child cry for a long time and strain the abdominal muscles. The chair should be regular and mushy. Constipation leads to tension in the abdominal muscles.
First-aid kit for a newborn
To maintain hygiene and navel handling, parents should have a first-aid kit for their newborn at home. The list of necessary funds can be divided into four groups:
- hygiene items;
- for the treatment of umbilical wounds;
- antipyretic;
- from infant colic.
Hygiene products include sterile cotton wool, wet wipes, baby manicure scissors, baby cream or diaper cream, and dusting powder.
To treat the umbilical wound, you will need brilliant green, cotton buds, hydrogen peroxide.
From infant colic at home, you should keep a safe heating pad, gas pipe, and colic remedies.
Antipyretic drugs include paracetamol or ibuprofen. Use them since three months. Other means for babies can not be used.