Persistence of the umbilical cord beyond which time should prompt consideration of an underlying abnormality

(C). The umbilical cord generally dries up and sloughs by 2 weeks of life. Delayed separation can be normal up to 45 days. However, because neutrophilic and/or monocytic infiltration appears to play a major role in autodigestion, persistence of the cord beyond 30 days should prompt consideration of an underlying functional abnormality of neutrophils (leukocyte adhesion deficiency) or neutropenia