paediatric

Necrotizing enterocolitis

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 stool, 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, probiotics.

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.