paediatric

Necrotizing enterocolitis

(NEC) is an disease that affects premature or very low birth weight infants. It is characterized by the permeability of the bowel wall to with associated and . Symptoms may include poor feeding, , decreased activity, blood in the , vomiting of bile, multi-organ failure, and potentially death.

Underlined words are explained — tap any of them.

Symptoms — what it feels like

·Poor feeding, , decreased activity, vomiting of bile

Causes — why it happens

·Unclear

Prevention

·Breast milk, .

Treatment

·Bowel rest, nasogastric tube, ,

Complications

·Short-gut , strictures, developmental delay

Outlook

·Risk of death 25%

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Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.