NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS : What is Necrotizing Enterocolitis? : Necrotizing Enterocolitis Symptoms

NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS : What is Necrotizing Enterocolitis? : Necrotizing Enterocolitis Symptoms
Necrotizing enterocolitis is among the most common and devastating diseases in neonates.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a disease that develops when the tissue in the inner lining of the small or large intestine becomes damaged and begins to die.

This causes the intestine to become inflamed.

The condition usually affects only the inner lining of the intestine, but the entire thickness of the intestine may become impacted eventually.

What Are the Symptoms of Necrotizing Enterocolitis?
1- Swelling or bloating of the abdomen
2-Discoloration of the abdomen
3- Bloody stool
4- Diarrhea
5-Poor feeding
6- Vomiting

What bacteria causes necrotizing enterocolitis?
Enteritis necroticans, known as pigbel in Papua New Guinea, is a segmental necrotizing infection of the jejunum and ileum caused by Clostridium perfringens, type C.

What Causes Necrotizing Enterocolitis?
The exact cause of NEC isn’t known.
However, it’s believed that a lack of oxygen during a difficult delivery may be a contributing factor.

What age does necrotizing enterocolitis occur?
In premature infants, onset of NEC is typically during the first several weeks after birth, with the age of onset inversely related to gestational age at birth.
In term infants, the reported median age of onset is 1-3 days, but onset may occur as late as age 1 month.

How fast does necrotizing enterocolitis progress?
Once this occurs, the infection can progress very quickly and is considered a medical emergency.

How can necrotizing enterocolitis be prevented?
Currently available strategies for primary prevention of NEC include antenatal glucocorticosteroids, cautious feeding strategy, fluid restriction, breast milk feeding and probiotics.

How Is Necrotizing Enterocolitis Diagnosed?
During the test, the doctor will gently touch your baby’s abdomen to check for swelling, pain, and tenderness.

Your baby’s stool can also be tested to look for the presence of blood.
This is called a stool guaiac test.
Your baby’s doctor may need to insert a needle into the baby’s abdominal cavity to check for fluid in the intestine.
The presence of intestinal fluid usually means there’s a hole in the intestine.

How Is Necrotizing Enterocolitis Treated?
In most cases, your doctor will tell you to stop breast-feeding.
Your baby will receive their fluids and nutrients intravenously, or through an IV.
Your baby will likely need antibiotics to help fight the infection.
Surgery may be necessary in severe cases of NEC. The procedure involves the removal of the damaged sections of the intestines.

Can Necrotizing enterocolitis come back?
Many babies who recover from NEC do not have further problems. But it is possible that other problems may develop, especially if your baby has had surgery.

What Is the Outlook for Children with Necrotizing Enterocolitis?
Necrotizing enterocolitis can be a life-threatening disease, but most babies completely recover once they receive treatment.


How common is necrotizing enterocolitis?
Overall, NEC affects one in 2,000 to 4,000 births, or between one percent and five percent of neonatal intensive care unit admissions. The disease occurs in nearly 10 percent of premature infants but is rare in full term infants.

Why do babies get necrotizing enterocolitis?
NEC is a serious illness in very sick, usually premature newborns. It happens when tissue in the large intestine (colon) gets inflamed. No one knows what causes NEC. High-risk babies, especially premature babies who are fed formula through bottles or tubes, are more likely to get it.

What are the risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis NEC in preterm infants?
Late preterm infants, in particular, are more likely to develop NEC if they have other risk factors, including intrauterine growth retardation, polycythemia, hypoglycemia, sepsis, exchange transfusions, umbilical lines, gestational diabetes, and being born to a mother with chorioamnionitis.

What causes NEC in premature babies?
NEC is a serious illness in very sick, usually premature newborns. It happens when tissue in the large intestine (colon) gets inflamed. No one knows what causes NEC. High-risk babies, especially premature babies who are fed formula through bottles or tubes, are more likely to get it.

NEC Cure

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an acquired inflammatory disease that affects the gut of newborn infants, particularly preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants. It is now the most common newborn surgical emergency and is associated with higher morbidity and mortality compared with all other gastrointestinal (GI) conditions requiring surgical interventio Patients with modified Bell’s stage III NEC have evidence of bowel necrosis or perforation; such advanced disease requiring surgical intervention develops in up to 50% of infants with NEC 1.