It could be a number of different things... I found this:
Belly Button Pain
Experiencing sudden and intense belly button pain requires urgent and immediate medical attention as it is a clear indicator of appendicitis. The belly button or the navel is located at the center of the tummy, and it is an area that does not generally experience discomfort and pain.
There have been many cases where pain in belly button has also been an indicator of food poisoning.
Apart from appendicitis, another common cause of belly button pain is cystitis, which is a urinary tract infection. Now this is not a very serious problem, but if it is not discovered soon the infection can spread to the kidneys.
Another very probable reason of belly button pain is simply overeating.
Hernias are another commonly seen cause of pain near belly button.
But with it being smelly, that helps narrow it down:
Smelly Discharge from Belly Button: Causes
Debris: Debris entrapped inside the belly button may cause irritation of the skin, which eventually results in infection.
Inflammation: Accumulation of pus collected from the surrounding inflamed tissue can give out foul-smelling odor. The smell is due to the presence of anaerobic bacteria.
Urachal Cyst: A cyst occurring in the persistent part of the urachus is known as urachal cyst. Urachal cyst is accompanied with pain in the abdomen and a rise in body temperature. The cyst bursts inside and oozes out fluid that comes out and results in smelly discharge from belly button.
Candidiasis: These are white patches that can occur on the belly button. They resemble cottage cheese or milk curds. Thrush are actually a species of yeasts called candida. They grow rapidly and uncontrolled. People with weak immune systems are at a higher risk as the body becomes unable to curb the growth of thrush. Read more on candidiasis.
Patent Urachus: Urachus tube is a small tube that joins the fetal bladder to the umbilical cord. In some cases, the urachus tube fails to close after birth. A surgery, called patent urachus is performed to treat the defect in the urachus tube. If the surgery does not heal, it may result in smell or urine and mucus discharge from a cyst.
Fungal Infection: Another cause for smelly discharge from belly button is fungal infection. Fungal infection of the belly button is characterized by painful itching and burning. Read more on belly button infection.
Sepsis-Septicemia: Nowadays, belly button piercing has become a style statement. A pierced navel may look stylish but due to frequent bleeding it surely invites many infection causing pathogens. The discharge of yellowish-green fluid from pierced belly button is called sepsis-septicemia. More on belly button piercing infection.
Thus, you see any one can develop smelly discharge from belly button. Its occurrence is, sometimes, almost unavoidable. But no need to worry much as there are various effective treatments available for foul smelling discharge from belly button. The ones that can be easily followed at the comfort of home are mentioned below.
Smelly Discharge from Belly Button: Remedies at Home
It may get alright on its own as your body sends white blood cells to fight off the bacteria and control the infection.
Doctors prescribe antibiotics to curb the infection. In severe cases, surgery may also be performed.
In case of urachal cyst, clean the area with anti bacterial soap at least once in a day. Also, apply Benzalkonium chloride or hydrogen peroxide on the cyst 4-5 times a day.
If yeast infection is the reason behind your smelly discharge of belly button, then try out some over-the-counter anti fungal topical creams. You may also apply plain yogurt on the yeast infection to get relief from itching. In case of kids, consult a doctor as, many anti fungal creams are not recommended for them.
One of the most effective smelly discharge from belly button treatments is to resist the urge of itching. Instead, place an ice-cube on the belly button to relieve itching.
Thrush can be treated with an anti fungal medicine called nystatin liquid. Put 1-2 drops of this liquid twice or thrice a day.
Cleanse the belly button with salt water, and allow the salt to harden on the belly button. The salt absorbs all the moisture released in the belly button, and hence controls further infection as well as coats the area to reduce foul smell. When the salt is hardened, brush it off.
Try not to keep the belly button area warm and moist as it will support microbial growth. If your belly button is prone to sweating, frequently apply talcum powder to avoid the conditions favorable for bacterial or fungal growth.
If even after trying out the above given ways of treatment for a week or so, the smelly discharge from belly button does not go away, you should consult a health care practitioner for medical intervention.
