Funisitis

Funisitis is inflammation of the connective tissue of the umbilical cord, occurring with chorioamnionitis. It involves only the external cord surface and Wharton's jelly, without vessel involvement. A severe form, necrotizing funisitis, arises when inflammation persists, leading to calcification from accumulated inflammatory debris. Funisitis may be associated with congenital syphilis, though this is now rare and seen almost exclusively in preterm infants, many of whom are stillborn or die within weeks.