Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious intestinal disease that primarily affects premature infants. It usually occurs within the first two weeks of life in babies who are fed formula instead of breast milk. In this condition, bacteria invade the intestinal wall, causing inflammation and potentially creating a gap that allows harmful germs to leak into the abdomen. If left untreated, NEC can lead to severe infection and even death.
The exact cause of NEC is unknown, but several factors can increase a baby's risk of developing the condition:
Prematurity: Babies born before 37 weeks gestation have weaker and less mature lungs and intestines.
Formula feeding: Premature babies fed formula are more likely to develop NEC than those who receive breast milk.
Difficult delivery or lowered oxygen levels during birth.
Existing gastrointestinal infections.
Serious illness or having received a blood transfusion.
Although NEC can occur in any newborn, it is most common in premature babies weighing less than 3.25 pounds.
Symptoms of NEC can vary from child to child but typically develop within the first two weeks of life. Common signs include:
Swollen or bloated belly
Feedings that stay in the stomach and don't move through the intestines
Green fluid in the stomach
Bloody stool
Difficulty breathing, low heart rate, or sluggishness
If your baby develops any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately, as other digestive conditions can produce similar signs.
To diagnose NEC, your child's doctor will likely perform an abdominal X-ray and blood tests in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). An X-ray showing gas or air bubbles in the intestinal wall and blood tests indicating low white blood cell counts are indicative of NEC.
Treatment for NEC depends on several factors, such as the baby's prematurity, overall health, medical history, and the extent of the infection. Common treatment methods include:
Stopping feedings and inserting a tube through the nose into the stomach to remove fluid and keep the stomach empty
Providing IV fluids for nutrition and hydration
Administering antibiotics to fight infection
Taking regular X-rays to monitor the condition
Providing extra oxygen or a breathing machine if the swollen belly makes breathing difficult
Isolating the baby to prevent the spread of NEC
If the infection does not improve with treatment or if there is a hole in the intestine, surgery may be necessary to remove dead tissue and ruptured or near-ruptured parts of the intestine. In severe cases, an ostomy may be required, connecting the intestine or bowel to an opening in the abdomen.
Most infants with NEC fully recover, although some may experience bowel scarring, narrowing, or future blockages. Babies who have had a large portion of their intestine removed during surgery may have difficulty absorbing nutrients and, in the most severe cases, may require a bowel transplant to survive.
Currently, there is no surefire way to prevent NEC. However, studies have shown that babies exclusively fed breast milk are less likely to develop the condition. Many NICUs now use donor breast milk when none is available from the mother to reduce the incidence of NEC. Researchers are also working on promising new treatments, such as probiotics to counteract harmful bacteria and blocking nitric oxide, a gas produced as a result of NEC that contributes to the destruction of the intestinal wall.
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