What is the best medicine for disinfecting a baby's belly button?

Everyone knows that babies have different physical constitutions from adults, and the requirements for some of the medicines used are also more stringent. Many parents are concerned about what medicine is used to disinfect the baby's belly button? We have also consulted authoritative experts in neonatology to hear what they say about the best medicine for disinfecting the baby's belly button! We hope that through the following introduction, new mothers can give their children the best medicine.

The best medicine to disinfect the navel of a newborn baby

The best medicine for disinfecting a newborn's navel is easily available in pharmacies - 70% isopropyl alcohol. The use of povidone, which is often called mercurochrome, is not recommended. Because when disinfecting, the iodine in povidone is absorbed through the skin and can affect thyroid function. In severe cases, the toxicity of iodine can also be revealed. The product instructions also state that it should be used with caution in newborns and infants under 6 months old. It can be used moderately when there is inflammation on the belly button.

Some drugs that are non-irritating during disinfection are not recommended for use on children because they contain anesthetic ingredients and vasoconstrictors. Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide do not have these negative effects. Alcohols that are easily available on the market include povidone and ethanol. Among them, isopropyl alcohol is the least irritating and is the best.

Doctor Dad's Notes on Navel Herniation and Inguinal Herniation

1) Navel prolapse

After the baby is born, the deep part of the belly button begins to tighten, and before it tightens, the belly button will protrude. When a baby cries, the intestines are squeezed due to the force, causing the belly button to protrude. This is umbilical hernia, commonly known as intestinal hernia. Generally speaking, as the child grows older, the cell tissue under the belly button tightens and the umbilical hernia problem can be solved.

Treatment: If the skin of the belly button has flattened a few weeks after the baby is born, but the belly button still protrudes when the baby cries, you can use adhesive tape to prevent the belly button from protruding frequently, so as to prevent the hernia channel from expanding. The method is to use elastic tape to stick to the front and sides of the abdomen, or wrap a cross gauze to press on the belly button. If in doubt, consult your pediatrician.

2) Inguinal herniation

Pediatric hernia is also known as pediatric inguinal hernia, commonly known as "intestinal hernia", which is the most common disease in pediatric urology surgery. During the embryonic period, there is an "inguinal process sheath" in the groin, which can help the testicles descend into the scrotum or be fixed by the round ligament of the uterus. After some children are born, the processus vaginalis does not close completely, causing the small intestine, omentum, ovary, fallopian tube, etc. in the abdominal cavity to enter the processus vaginalis, which becomes a hernia. If only peritoneal fluid enters the scrotum, it is scrotal edema.

The general incidence of hernia is 1 to 4%, 10 times that of girls in boys and even higher in premature babies, and it may occur on both sides. Hernia may occur days, months or years after birth. Usually, after the child cries, exercises or has a bowel movement, there will be a bulge in the groin, which sometimes extends to the scrotum or labia. It may disappear on its own after resting in bed or sleeping. In severe cases, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, anorexia or crying and restlessness will occur.

Surgery is the best treatment for pediatric hernia. It is usually performed under general anesthesia and uses a high ligation method. The operation is safe and does not take long. If a hernia occurs, it should be treated early to avoid clamping of the contents of the hernia sac, which would increase the difficulty of surgery and the risk of life. As for scrotal edema, it can be observed until one year old. If it does not disappear, surgical treatment can be performed. However, careful follow-up examinations are required to pay attention to the possibility of hernia formation.

Note after xenon surgery Unless otherwise instructed by your doctor, you should eat and exercise as usual after returning home, but try to avoid excessive exertion. If vomiting occurs, temporarily fast for four hours. If the wound is painful, you can take painkillers as prescribed. If the wound is bleeding, red, swollen, hot, painful, has exudate, or has a high fever, go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment. The outermost layer of the wound is only covered with cosmetic tape, gauze and transparent film, while the inner layer is sutured with catgut, which can be absorbed by itself and does not need to be removed. The wound should not be exposed to water within 4 days after the operation. You can take a bath as usual after 5 days. After 6 days, carefully tear off the transparent film and remove the gauze. To avoid misdiagnosis, prevent children from crying, getting angry, exerting too much force, or being exposed to damp and cold air. Observe the activity of the mass frequently. If severe pain occurs, it is not advisable to treat it at home and you should go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment.

3) Scrotal edema is not herniation but is similar to it

The scrotal edema is caused by the testicles being filled with water, most of which is absorbed within one year after birth. If it continues after one year of age, it means that herniation will occur later.

Scrotal edema that persists one year after birth must be treated with surgery, and the best time to do the surgery is when the child is two years old. If surgery is not performed, the water pressure will prevent the growth of the testicles. When the child reaches adulthood, one testicle may not form sperm and become an ectopic testicle, or it may not be able to discharge sperm normally, becoming the culprit of testicular cancer.

4) A baby with a melon-shaped navel

Sometimes when the belly button is detached, flesh will bulge out from the belly button, like a huge mole, which is called a baby bump. Mild swelling in infants can be gradually eliminated by disinfecting with alcohol and drying. Severe swelling can be maintained with silver nitrate solution or a simple operation can be performed.

5) Belly button care should be performed after 20 days of birth

As long as the umbilical cord is cut properly, the remaining trace will fall off on its own one week to ten days after birth. However, you cannot assume that everything is fine just because it falls off on its own. It takes about 20 days for the belly button to heal completely. There may be bleeding or suppuration before that. Even if the belly button falls off, it must be disinfected for a period of time.

When disinfecting the belly button, extend it to the inside and use 70% alcohol. After the belly button falls off, it is left open for disinfection and exposed to the air for a long time, so it will slowly dry out. If there is no inflammation but only pus discharge, do not cover it with gauze after disinfection. If there is just a little smell, it is not a big deal. But if there is pus discharge, odor, and redness in the belly button area, it indicates inflammation.

Point

Unlike navel herniations, inguinal herniations will not heal on their own and require surgery.

There is no need to worry about navel herniation unless the herniated area is overlapping and rotten.

If scrotal edema persists one year after birth, surgical treatment must be performed when the child is two years old.

Now everyone should know what is the best medicine for disinfecting the baby's belly button. If parents want to disinfect their baby's belly button, they can use the above medicine, which can definitely ensure the baby's safety. However, if you are not confident in disinfecting your child’s belly button yourself, you can leave these matters to the doctor, as they are professionals.