Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a disease that affects premature babies. It causes the death of intestinal tissue. The intestine stops working, and the baby can become sick or even die. Although it is a rare disease, many children are affected by it, primarily due to premature birth.
According to data from an NCBI article, NEC affects about 9,000 of the 480,000 infants born prematurely. The exact cause of NEC isn’t known, but some factors make it more likely to occur. This article will discuss what causes NEC and how doctors diagnose it.
What Is Necrotizing Enterocolitis?
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe and life-threatening condition that affects premature babies. The condition usually develops within the first few weeks after birth but can also happen later in infancy or early childhood.
Most cases of NEC occur during an illness called sepsis. It is a severe response to an infection that makes you feel very sick with high fever and chills, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, confusion, and/or pain around one or both sides where your ribs meet at your chest.
Sepsis is also common in adults, and according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, 1.7 million adults develop sepsis in the US annually. However, sepsis in adults doesn’t usually lead to NEC. Additionally, not all children with sepsis go on to develop NEC.
What Causes NEC?
NEC is a condition that can develop in babies due to various reasons. Here are some of the underlying causes of NEC.
Preterm Birth
Premature birth is a significant risk factor for NEC. Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy have an increased chance of developing the disease compared to babies born at full term.
Premature babies are more likely to develop infections like sepsis (blood poisoning) and pneumonia. This makes them more likely to get NEC if they also have a problem with their gut that allows bacteria from their intestines into the rest of their body via the bloodstream.
Babies born by cesarean section may also be at a higher risk of NEC. And cesarean section births are common in the US. According to recent reports, 1 in 5 births in the US is done by cesarean section.
Baby Food Products
Some baby food products can cause NEC. For example, feeding your child too much fiber or fat could lead to NEC. This is because these foods don’t have enough proteins and carbohydrates to help them pass through your child’s digestive system without causing problems with their bowels.
Due to this link, baby formula brands like Enfamil and Similac have been involved in NEC lawsuits. Many parents are filing lawsuits against these manufacturers. According to TorHoerman Law, the plaintiffs claim they were not warned of the problems caused by the baby formula products. Plaintiffs and their family members can claim compensation for their problems.
The NEC lawsuit payout and settlement amounts can vary from case to case. This can depend on various factors, such as the severity of the problem, how long your child has been diagnosed with NEC, etc. However, you can expect a settlement amount anywhere between $5,000 to $500,000.
Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and its Role in NEC Development
NEC is an inflammatory disease of the intestine that can affect premature babies. The condition occurs when a baby’s digestive tract becomes infected with bacteria, causing severe inflammation and damage to the intestines.
When it comes down to it, NEC is caused by an imbalance between good and bad bacteria in your gut. The latter term refers to any disruption in these microorganisms’ normal composition or function, which can happen when you eat certain foods or take certain medications.
Immature Gut Barrier and Immune System
The gut barrier and immune system can be vital in preventing NEC.
- Immature Gut Barrier: The gut barrier is immature in preterm babies, so it’s not as effective at protecting the body from harmful substances entering the bloodstream. This can lead to inflammation and infection of the bowels.
- Immature Immune System: A premature baby’s immune system isn’t fully developed yet, so it can’t fight off infections as well as an adult’s would. Infants born early also have less exposure to bacteria and other germs that help strengthen their immune systems during pregnancy.
Together these factors increase your baby’s risk for NEC because they make it easier for harmful bacteria like Clostridium difficile (C-diff) or viruses such as rotavirus or Norovirus to enter through their digestive tract into their bloodstream, where they cause damage within minutes!
Ischemic Injury and Reduced Blood Flow
To understand how ischemia causes NEC, it’s essential to understand what these terms mean. Ischemia is a medical condition with inadequate blood flow to an organ or tissue. This can result in necrosis of the affected tissue and lead to infarction, which could cause intestinal obstruction or perforation if left untreated. Infants with NEC often present with symptoms such as poor feeding, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal distension.
Inflammatory Response and Cytokine Imbalances
Inflammation is the body’s response to infection or injury. For example, when you get a cut, your body releases cytokines to fight off bacteria and heal the wound. However, inflammation can also occur without an apparent cause.
Cytokine imbalances are thought to be responsible for this type of chronic inflammation in NEC cases. They cause cells in your gut wall to become overly sensitive to stimuli such as toxins produced by bacteria in food or feces passing through them.
The result? Your body mounts an immune response against those toxins by releasing more cytokines than necessary, leading to even more irritation on top of what was already there!
Genetic Predisposition and Familial Risk
Genetic predisposition and familial risk are causes of NEC.
- Genetic predisposition: There is a family history of NEC, which means your baby could have been born with a genetic mutation or abnormality that increases his or her risk of developing the disease. If you or someone in your family has had this condition before, it is essential to discuss this with your doctor so they can monitor your baby closely during his/her stay at the hospital.
- Familial risk: A genetic mutation may also increase the likelihood that another child born into your family will develop NEC, even if no one else has ever had it.
Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, many factors can contribute to NEC development in a baby. We know that preterm birth and baby food product consumption are two of the most common causes of worldwide necrotizing enterocolitis development in infants. However, much research is still needed before we understand all of them completely. These factors will help us predict who might develop or prevent NEC altogether.
