What Is Necrotizing Enterocolitis?
Most commonly found in premature infants that have been fed baby formula, Necrotizing Enterocolitis is a serious intestinal disease that can prove fatal due to tissue death and bacterial infections. As many as 50% of babies diagnosed with NEC do not survive, while those who do live may suffer from long-term health problems. Know About Baby Formula Recall Lawsuit.
Because formula feeding is one of the main factors in babies with NEC, many of these deaths and illnesses can – and should – be prevented. Approximately 1 in 10,000 full-term babies and 1 in 1,000 premature babies suffer from NEC. Sadly, this disease is currently the most common gastrointestinal emergency affecting preemies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
There are four main types of NEC, each classified by the cause and symptoms:
Atypical NEC. The rarest cases involve newborns getting NEC in their first week of life.
Classic NEC. The most common, these cases can surface as early as 3 weeks after birth and affect babies born before 28 weeks.
Term Infant NEC. Babies born with birth defects at full-term can get NEC.
Transfusion-Associated NEC. 33% of babies can get NEC within three days of receiving a blood transfusion to treat anemia.
What Are the Symptoms of NEC?
Babies who contract NEC have an increased risk of death, especially premature infants. The best way to keep them safe from the most serious complications of the disease is by achieving a diagnosis as early as possible.
Many of the common symptoms of NEC in babies include:
Unable to feed
Refusing to feed
Swollen abdomen
Bloody stools
Abdominal pain
Changes in breathing
Blood pressure or heart rate changes
Lethargy
Similac & Enfamil Baby Formula Lawsuits
Families whose premature infants were diagnosed with NEC after being fed products from the Similac or Enfamil lines of formula may be qualified to file baby formula lawsuits to seek compensation for their child’s injuries or death. Manufacturers Mead Johnson and Abbott Laboratories have failed to warn medical providers and caregivers about the risk of NEC caused by their products.