Differential Diagnosis for Bleeding after Umbilicus Stump Falls Off in Newborn
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Umbilical stump infection or omphalitis: This is the most common cause of bleeding after the umbilical stump falls off. Infection can lead to inflammation and bleeding from the umbilical stump site.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Umbilical granuloma: A small, benign growth that can form at the base of the umbilical stump, leading to bleeding.
- Umbilical hernia with bleeding: Although less common, an umbilical hernia can cause bleeding if there is irritation or ulceration of the hernia sac.
- Normal variant of umbilical stump separation: Sometimes, a small amount of bleeding can occur when the umbilical stump falls off as part of the normal healing process.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB): Although rare, VKDB can cause severe bleeding from the umbilical stump, especially if the newborn did not receive vitamin K at birth.
- Hemophilia or other bleeding disorders: These conditions can cause significant bleeding from the umbilical stump and require prompt diagnosis and treatment.
- Infection with a bleeding tendency (e.g., meningococcemia): Certain infections can cause both infection and bleeding, making prompt diagnosis crucial.
Rare Diagnoses
- Umbilical artery or vein bleeding: Rarely, bleeding can occur from the umbilical artery or vein, which can be life-threatening.
- Congenital anomalies of the umbilicus (e.g., patent urachus): These anomalies can cause bleeding or other symptoms from the umbilical stump.
- Tumor or malignancy: Extremely rare, but tumors or malignancies can cause bleeding from the umbilical stump in newborns.