Infected patent urachus in a young male: Primary care perspective

Abstract

Abdominal pain is a common presenting complaint in a primary care setting. Umbilical discharge secondary to umbilical anomalies is usually diagnosed in children and is rare in adults. This case highlights the possibilities of umbilical anomalies as causes of undifferentiated abdominal pain and umbilical discharge in adults. A 24-year-old male presented with a recurrent history of undifferentiated lower abdominal pain and umbilical discharge but was not diagnosed appropriately, leading to multiple visits to general practitioners and emergency departments for four years. An abdominal ultrasound was done, which revealed a hypoechoic tubular structure at the midline of the abdomen. A diagnosis of patent urachus was made and he was then referred to the surgical team for excision of the patent urachus.