This is an automatically translated article.
The article was consulted with Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi An - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.Betadine is an antiseptic solution often used in medical facilities and hospitals, so many mothers wonder if betadine can be used to disinfect the umbilical cord of a newborn baby?
1. What is an umbilical cord infection?
Umbilical cord infection is an infection of the umbilical cord that occurs in a baby after birth. Infection can be localized or widespread. When infected, the umbilical area will be congested, spreading to the abdominal wall, with edema, oozing, sometimes pus.
2. Causes of navel infection
The cause of umbilical cord infection is often due to mothers' lack of knowledge about child care. Many mothers are afraid of hurting their baby, so they wrap it tightly, causing a blockage at the navel, creating conditions for bacteria to grow and cause disease. When the baby is not clean the umbilical area will cause infection, which is also the main cause of staphylococcus. Accordingly, there are 3 levels of infection including:
Grade 1: Redness at the base of the navel, normal abdominal skin around the navel Grade 2: Redness around the umbilicus spreading to the skin with a diameter of >= 2 cm Degree 3: Redness around the umbilicus umbilical cord extending to the skin >2 cm in diameter, without phlebitis of the lower abdomen
Nhiễm trùng rốn ở trẻ sơ sinh
3. Signs of umbilical cord infection in babies
Children with umbilical cord infection have very clear signs, just observing the parents can detect immediately. Signs are obvious such as:
The navel and/or the skin around the navel is swollen and red Navel is leaking fluid, pus, or is still wet after falling Navel has a bad odor Bleeding
4. Betadine (Povidone iodine) can be used to disinfect the umbilical cord for babies?
Betadine contains Povidone iodine which is an antiseptic solution used to disinfect wounds commonly used in hospitals. The drug, when applied to the skin, dries quickly, does not create a burning sensation, is less toxic than natural iodine preparations. However, betadine antiseptic solution is contraindicated for infants and children under 2 years of age. For women who are pregnant and breastfeeding, and children under 6 months of age, Betadine should only be used when prescribed by a doctor.
In cases where parents don't know how to use it for babies, they will give advice depending on how to disinfect the baby's umbilical cord. In case the mother drops the medicine on cotton swabs and then disinfects the baby's umbilical cord, using it once a day only needs to stop using the drug and do not need to take the child to the doctor. Instead, mothers should use alcohol 70 degrees or 0.9% physiological saline solution to disinfect the baby's umbilical cord. In other cases, mothers put drops directly on the navel, 2 or more times a day, more than 2 drops each time, they need to take their children to a doctor to check thyroid function.
Betadine solution used to wash perineal sutures does not have much effect on the neonate because the amount of drug absorbed and excreted in milk is negligible. However, during breastfeeding, mothers should also limit the use of Betadine and only use it as prescribed by a doctor.
Betadine (Povidone iodine)
Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to. With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.
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