pediatrics
Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Introduction
Necrotizing enterocolitis is an acquired disease, primarily of preterm or sick neonates, characterized by mucosal or even deeper intestinal necrosis. It is the most common gastrointestinal emergency among neonates. Symptoms and signs include feeding intolerance, lethargy, temperature instability, ileus, bloating, bilious emesis, hematochezia, reducing substances in the stool, apnea, and sometimes signs of sepsis. Diagnosis is clinical and is confirmed by imaging studies. Treatment is primarily supportive and includes nasogastric suction, parenteral fluids, total parenteral nutrition, antibiotics, isolation in cases of infection, and, sometimes, surgery. Over 90% of cases of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) occur in Preterm Infants . Incidence of NEC has been reported to vary between 6% and 15% of all neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) ( 