Newborn Necrotizing Enterocolitis

VomitingDiarrheaMilk or formula that stays in the stomach, instead of going into the intestines the way it shouldBleeding from the rectum Some symptoms of NEC can also happen with other conditions. These symptoms include: пїЅ пїЅ

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Some symptoms of NEC can also happen with other conditions. These symptoms include: пїЅ пїЅ

Long pauses with no breathing
Acting sleepy a lot of the time " пїЅ It can be hard to wake the baby up.
Skin that feels too warm or too cool

Doctors usually find NEC in babies who are already in the hospital. This is because NEC usually happens in premature babies or sick babies who are born on time. If the doctors and nurses taking care of your baby think he or she might have NEC, they can do an exam and treat the condition. пїЅ пїЅ

Will my baby need tests? " пїЅ Yes. Doctors can order some or all of these tests: пїЅ пїЅ

X-ray of the belly
Ultrasound of the belly " пїЅ An ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create a picture of the inside of the body.
Blood tests
Tests on a sample of the baby's bowel movement

Imaging tests such as X-ray and ultrasound show changes in the intestines caused by NEC. Blood tests and tests on a sample of bowel movement help doctors tell if NEC is causing the symptoms or if a different condition might be the cause. Other diseases can cause symptoms like those of NEC. пїЅ пїЅ

How is necrotizing enterocolitis treated? " пїЅ A baby with NEC needs treatment right away. Treatments can include: пїЅ пїЅ

Giving fluids and nutrition through an "IV " пїЅ (a small tube that goes into a vein)
Putting a thin tube called a "nasogastric tube " пїЅ in the baby's nose, down the esophagus, and into the stomach. (The esophagus is the tube that carries food to the stomach.) If there is extra fluid and air in the stomach or intestines, the tube can suck it up. This can relieve belly swelling and help stop vomiting.
Giving medicines or blood transfusions to help bleeding problems or other problems " пїЅ During a blood transfusion, the baby will get blood that has been donated by someone else. The donated blood goes into a vein.
Antibiotics to fight infection
Surgery " пїЅ Doctors can drain fluid from the belly or take out a part of the intestine that has serious damage.

Babies with NEC can be very sick. During treatment, they might need: пїЅ пїЅ

Medicines to help the heart work correctly
A breathing machine or oxygen to help them get enough air in the lungs

Babies getting treatment for NEC have X-rays, blood tests, and tests on a sample of bowel movement often. All these tests can show if the NEC is getting better or worse. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 83039 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

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Newborn Necrotizing Enterocolitis

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