In necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), some of the tissue lining an infant’s intestine dies. The surviving tissue becomes swollen and inflamed; as a result, the infant is unable to digest food or otherwise move food through the digestive tract.1 The symptoms of NEC can develop over a period of days or appear suddenly. Commonly reported symptoms include2,3:
- Poor tolerance of feeding (not being able to digest food)
- Bloating or swelling of the stomach (abdominal distention)
- Stomach discoloration
- Pain when someone touches the abdomen
- Blood in the stools or a change in their volume or frequency
- Diarrhea, with change in the color and consistency of the stool, often containing frank (visible) blood
- Decreased activity (lethargy)
- Vomiting greenish-yellow liquid
- Inability to maintain normal temperature
- In advanced cases, the blood pressure may drop and the pulse may become weak. Infants may develop fluid in the abdominal cavity or infection of the tissue lining the stomach (a condition called peritonitis) [pronounced per-i-tn-AHY-tis], or they could go into shock.3 The affected area of the intestine may develop a hole or perforation (pronounced per-fuh-RAY-shun) in the wall requiring emergency surgery.2,3
- NICHD. (2006). Common reflux treatment linked to life threatening bowel infection in premature infants. Retrieved August 1, 2012, from http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releasespages/common_reflux.aspx [top]
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2011). Necrotizing enterocolitis. Retrieved August 1, 2012, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002133 [top]
- Kids Health. (2011). Necrotizing enterocolitis. Retrieved August 1, 2012, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/digestive/nec.html [top]