Picture quiz: funny umbilical stump

This is an umbilical granuloma and it’s pretty common. It’s caused by a mild infection and usually appears shortly after cord separation (although there can be a delay of a few weeks).

It looks like pink or red soft tissue at the site of the umbilicus.

Sometimes they can bleed when they rub against the nappy or clothing, but otherwise can be asymptomatic.

The best way to treat this is by applying silver nitrate to the granuloma. Avoid the surrounding skin when applying the silver nitrate as it can cause burns – putting vaseline on the skin around the umbilicus can help protect it. The vaseline should be applied three times a day.

This one is quite large so it’s likely to require silver nitrate.

Smaller ones can be left and will general resolve spontaneously. Some people recommend applying salt to the smaller granulomas – place it on a swab and hold it to the granuloma for 5-10 mins.

Look out for any urine or stool discharging from the umbilicus (suggesting uracho or vitello-intestinal duct abnormalities). They are not very common.

Occasionally granulomas do not go away with silver nitrate and may need surgical referral.