Synonyms

Omphalitis – “big belly button”

Name of the disease in English

Omphalitis

The disease in brief

Infection of the navel leads to inflammation

• which can remain localized at the navel, and affect one or more of the associated internal structures (the umbilical vein, the 2 umbilical arteries, the urachus canal, and the surrounding tissues),
• or which can spread by contiguity into adjacent organs (liver, bladder, peritoneal cavity) with for example complications of liver abscess, epiploitis, or peritonitis, or spread through the blood and cause septicemia, polyarthritis, meningitis, etc.

The bacteria involved are numerous and most often considered opportunistic pathogens. Their most frequent reservoir is the environment as well as the digestive tract (oral or intestinal microbiota) and the caudal genital tract (vaginal microbiota) of cows.

Clinical cases are sporadic or of epidemic or endemic appearance (but without contagion from one animal to another) with a frequency varying from one herd to another depending on the housing conditions and the hygienic care given to the newborn.

Clinic & diagnosis

In the acute phase the navel is large, hot, painful; general signs (decreased appetite, hyperthermia) are frequent but to varying degrees. If this phase is neglected, an abscess may form; the signs of pain and general signs diminish.

The diagnosis of external omphalitis is not difficult. The diagnosis can be tricky when it extends to internal structures (ouraquite, omphalophlebitis, omphaloarteritis) and even more so when there are complications.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

Umbilical hernia: CH9

Associated hernia and omphalitis: CH1_2

- Infected urachus canal (or abscess) N13

-Deep abscess of the navel-To be specified CH1.5

Confirm a suspicion?

The accuracy of the affected structures is significantly improved by ultrasound examination.  

In serial cases, the bacteria (or bacteria) involved, rarely specific, can be identified from a swab or from the exudate obtained by puncturing the infected area.

Prognosis and treatment

The prognosis is generally favorable if treatment is started early and before the disease spreads or complications appear.

At the onset of infection, curative treatment is based on broad-spectrum antibiotics with good tissue diffusion, for a duration of action of 3 to 5 days, for example amoxicillin, the penicillin/dihydrostreptomycin combination or tetracyclines.

In the absence of a cure, and except in the case of obvious complications, surgical treatment (removal of infected tissues) can be implemented.

Prevention

Systematic disinfection of the navel as soon as possible after birth, by soaking or spraying with a "drying" antiseptic (e.g. iodine tincture, eosin, etc.) is the gold standard. The conditions of implementation are crucial to prevent this practice from becoming a factor that promotes infection.

Environmental hygiene, from birth to drying of the external navel, the actual conditions of birth, and suitable ventilation of the home are the major areas of technical action for prevention.

References

Large animal internal medicine-Field Guide. SMITH B.BP. Mosby edition-Page 111