MONDAY, DAY 1
WEEK 4
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
When it comes to language, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is fairly straightforward. Necrotizing means causing the death of tissue, entero refers to the small intestine, colo denotes the large intestine, and itis signals inflammation. But in life, this medical condition is far more complicated—and dangerous. Striking 25,000 infants every year, the gastrointestinal infection and inflammation can destroy part—or all—of the intestinal tract.
More than 85 percent of NEC cases occur in babies born prematurely. Symptoms, which usually appear within the first 2 weeks of life, include bloody stools, greenish vomit, a bloated or red abdomen, and poor tolerance of feedings. Less common signs are diarrhea, lethargy, and fluctuating body temperature. If NEC is suspected, a physician will use an x-ray to look for gas bubbles in the intestines and abdominal cavity. Treatments for the condition include antibiotics, nasogastric drainage (inserting a tube through the nose into the stomach to remove air and fluid), and intravenous fluids for nutrition. In more severe cases, surgery to remove the damaged intestine is necessary.
Although NEC has been studied extensively, the exact cause is still unknown. Some experts believe that premature infants are simply born with weaker intestinal tissue. When they begin to feed, the stress of digestion may cause usually harmless bacteria to attack and damage the digestive organs. Meanwhile, other researchers believe that babies who have low oxygen levels due to respiratory distress syndrome are susceptible, because the available oxygen is routed to the vital organs instead of the gastrointestinal tract. A more debatable theory is that NEC may be infectious and spread among newborns, as it often affects a number of infants in the same nursery.