Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Necrotising enterocolitis causes
Introduction
Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It’s easy! Click here to learn about editing.
Overview
Overview
NEC has no definitive known cause. An infectious agent has been suspected, as cluster outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have been seen, but no common organism has been idenitfied. A combination of intestinal flora, inherent weakness in the neonatal immune system, alterations in mesenteric blood flow and milk feeding may be factors. NEC is almost never seen in infants before oral feedings are initiated.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]