[NP-Clinical] Belly Button Juice

[Priscilla Merrill]

My friend’s daughter has a rare defect that sounds like this.  I can’t
recall the name (something about a sinus tract fistula) but she went to
Children’s Hospital in Boston to have it repaired.  It developed late teens
and the drainage increased into her early 20’s.  It’s a fistula of sorts
that forms in utero (she was a twin and think these tract clefts form more
in twins as cell division occurs)  Her symptoms were identical other than
her opening was subclavicular. .  They did an MRI to see how extensive and
it ran very extensively throughout her upper body and neck.

 I’d refer her to a major medical center surgeon if you’re near one or call
around to your local peds surgeons to see if they’d evaluate her since she’s
not truly peds.  She had OCD and this serous crusty drainage made her feel
dirty. That is why she opted for surgery and it was a 2 night stay and she
sailed through and you can’t even see her tiny incision.  Amazing!

Hopefully the peds folks can add more on this but I’m guessing it’s one of
these. The surgeon said you could let these go but they are likely to get
infected.  It could run very deep.

 

Priscilla Merrill FNP

 

   _____  

From: np-clinical-bounces at nurse.net [mailto:np-clinical-bounces at nurse.net]
On Behalf Of Barbara C. Phillips
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 11:48 PM
To: 'NP Clinical'
Subject: [NP-Clinical] Belly Button Juice

 

Today was “stump the chump” day.

 

Healthy 18 year old female presents today with complaints of liquid
“pouring” from her belly button. Has been going on for about 5 months now.
Fluid is clear and dries cloudy. She’ll often wake with dried fluid on her
tummy. Somewhat tender, especially when the air hits her. No piercing.
Denies putting anything in her “innie”. Sometimes it smells, but does not
itch. Is otherwise fine (no fever, chills, neg GI/GU)

 

Belly is slightly round, non-tender, no masses. Naval is  mildly edematous,
little to no erythema. Insertion of a swab causes a great deal of
discomfort. Small amount of serous looking, non-malodorous fluid. Unable to
detect any fissures, foreign objects or belly button link. I sent what fluid
I was able to collect for culture.

 

I guess it’s possible she’s just got an irritated belly button, or perhaps a
bit of a fungal infection….but is there anything serious I need to consider?

 

 

 

Barbara C. Phillips, NP

Aberdeen, WA


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