Necrotizing Enterocolitis - Symptoms & Treatment

Necrotizing enterocolitis is an acquired disease, chiefly in premature infants or sick newborns, in which intestinal tissue dies. Signs and symptoms comprise feeding intolerance, lethargy, temperature instability, ileus, bloating, bilious emesis, hematochezia, reducing substances in the stool, apnea, and sometimes signs of sepsis. The disease usually occurs in untimely newborns. The cause is not tacit. Dwindled blood flow to the intestine in a sick premature newborn may result in injury to the inner layers of the intestine, allowing bacteria that normally exist within the intestine to invade the damaged intestinal wall. If the injury progresses through the integral thickness of the bowel wall and the intestinal wall perforates, intestinal contents leak into the abdominal cavity and cause peritonitis. Necrotizing enterocolitis can also lead to infection of the blood (sepsis). In the most severe cases, necrotizing enterocolitis can be ruinous. Newborns with necrotizing enterocolitis may develop swelling of the abdomen. They may vomit bile-stained intestinal fluid, and blood may be visible in the stools. These newborns soon appear very sick and phlegmatic and have low body temperature and repeated pauses of breathing (apnea spells). The diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis is substantiated by abdominal x-rays. Blood samples are taken for blood cultures to recognize the bacteria responsible for the infection.

Necrotizing enterocolitis is a serious intestinal disorder in babies. This is a serious condition which requires care from your baby's doctor. Nearly all babies at risk for NEC are already hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and under close observation because of their small size. Necrotizing enterocolitis develops in about 10% of newborns weighing less than 800 g (under 2 lb). It is a severe infection that can produce complications in the intestine itself such as ulcers, pricks in the intestinal wall, and tissue necrosis as well as progress to life-threatening septicemia. Necrotizing enterocolitis most commonly affects the lower section of the small intestine (ileum). It is less common in the colon and upper small bowel.

Causes of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Common causes and risk factor's of Necrotizing Enterocolitis include the following :

Is considered “high risk” and has started taking milk by mouth or feeding tube.

Has a gastrointestinal infection.

May be related with use of indomethacin or early dexamethasone treatment.

Had a difficult delivery and had lowered oxygen levels during labor.

Treatment of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Antibiotics for infection.

Nasogastric (NG) tube (nose into stomach) to keep stomach empty.

Stopping feedings.

Intravenous fluids (IV) for nutrition and fluid replacement.

Extra oxygen or mechanically assisted breathing if the abdomen is so swollen that it intervenes with breathing.