Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC)
- Capital & Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) >
- Capital & Coast DHB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
“Necrotising” means the death of tissue, “entero” refers to the small intestine, “colo” to the large intestine, and “itis” means inflammation.
NEC is the most common and serious gastrointestinal disorder among hospitalised preterm infants.
NEC typically occurs within the first 2 weeks of life, usually after milk feeding has begun (usually via a tube going from the infant’s mouth to stomach).
NEC is most common in premature infants weighing less than 1500g.
These premature infants have immature bowels, which are sensitive to changes in blood flow and prone to infection. They may have difficulty with blood and oxygen circulation and digestion, which increases their chances of developing NEC.
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