Belly Button Infections

The most common belief about belly button infections is that it is caused only because of belly button piercing. Though this is one of the prominent causes of belly button ring infections, there are other causes too, which we must consider for proper prevention and treatment of belly button infections.

General Information on Belly Button Infections

The belly button infections may be caused due to some peculiar kinds of bacteria causing bleeding or excretions of white substance or some other symptoms like pain and soreness. You may experience nausea, if the intensity of the infection is high. Pathogens such as fungi and bacteria coupled with ouch due to unwashed hands or bathing in impure and polluted water, are known to cause belly button infections. Though body piercings such as belly button piercing is done for a style or fashion statement, it can be harmful to your body and cause belly button piercing infection if done in a wrong manner. The first sight would be, bleeding with discharge of pus, which may be green, yellow or gray in color. The stage in which a fluid called pus is released is known as cellulitis. The stage in which yellowish-green discharge is seen due to the bleeding of the piercing wound is known as sepsis-septicemia. You might experience pain due to the infected belly button ring.

The possibility of the infected belly button area becoming red is high in belly button infections. If you neglect the belly button infections and not treat it in time, you will have to face very serious consequences. There is every possibility of the development of abscess due to early negligence, and prolonged negligence can prove fatal for the infected person. There are some more effects of delaying the treatment for belly button infections they are - infection of the abdomen and also food poisoning. This can happen if the untreated infection spreads and reaches to the other parts of the human body. The belly button infections may lead to further complications such as high temperature or fever and frequent body aches in many parts of the body. In such critical circumstances, the patient may be suggested hospitalization for avoiding the further damage.

How to Cure Belly Button Infections?

If your case due to the belly button infections is very severe, you may be prescribed a heavy dose of antibiotics by your physician or consulting doctor. If you find that your belly button region is sore, visit your doctor immediately without delaying for proper counseling and treatment immediately. In most of the cases, infections aggravate due to the lack of consciousness and medical knowledge among the people. To avoid getting a belly button infection, you should properly wash your naval area every day. Note that this should not be done too roughly or for too long as this can invite problems without any reason. After you have a bath or a swim, you should ensure that there is no water remaining in the pierced area, by drying it properly. If you are having the belly button rings, then make sure that they do not contain nickel and avoid removing them too often as doing so can cause the wound to spread.

The use of alcohol to treat the belly button infections is a very good idea because alcohol acts as a disinfectant. Apply antiseptic creams which are available in the market only after taking suggestions or advise from your family doctor. In many cases, hydrogen peroxide is used to clean the infected area.

The time required for the complete curing of the belly button infections may be around six months or, in some cases, as high as two years. Take the above precautions to avoid the complications that result from belly button infections.