Necrotizing enterocolitis, also known as NEC, is a gastrointestinal disease that primarily affects preterm babies, especially those who have been fed bovine milk-based formulas like Enfamil and Similac.
NEC usually occurs within two to six weeks after a baby is born.
In some cases, symptoms begin to appear gradually, but in other cases, symptoms of NEC might show up immediately.
Some of the most common symptoms of NEC in infants include:
Pain in the abdominal area
Yellow or green vomit
Bloody stools
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Changes in breathing patterns
Abnormal fluctuations in heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure
Difficulty eating
Difficulty gaining weight
NEC is diagnosed using blood tests that look for specific bacteria, fecal tests that test for blood in an infant’s stool, and abdominal X-rays that may reveal abnormalities in the gut.
Left untreated, NEC can cause severe complications, including short bowel syndrome, gut rot, intestinal strictures, sepsis, and bacterial infections in the abdomen.
Symptoms such as an upset stomach, gas, or diarrhea can also be caused by a mild allergy to a certain formula.
While the cause of NEC in preterm infants is not fully understood by medical professionals, the fact that premature and underweight babies tend to be immunocompromised is certainly a contributing factor.
Full-term infants tend to have a more robust immune system that can fight the bacteria that cause NEC, but preterm babies’ immune systems often don’t have the strength to prevent infection.
On top of being immunocompromised, premature infants have weaker digestive systems.
Because their immune and digestive systems are not functioning properly, their bodies have a harder time fighting NEC.
Premature babies also often experience decreased circulation.
When the intestines can’t get the oxygen they need due to reduced blood flow the intestinal lining can become damaged, causing bacteria to escape into the infant’s bloodstream or into the abdomen.
Recent research, such as a 2019 study conducted by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, has exposed the danger of feeding cow’s milk-based baby formula products like Enfamil and Similac to newborns, especially premature and underweight infants.
Instances of NEC are higher in premature babies who consume these formula products than in those who only consume breast milk.
As a result of these studies, parents whose infants suffered harm or even died due to NEC after being fed bovine milk-based baby formula are bringing lawsuits against the manufacturers of these popular products.
Many of these lawsuits are ongoing.
About 3.18 million Americans have used Similac formula, and about 3.22 million Americans have fed their infants Enfamil formula.
If you are the parent of an infant who developed NEC, you could be eligible to file a lawsuit if your child was born prematurely, received the bovine-milk-based formulas Similac or Enfamil, and was diagnosed with NEC.
If you believe your baby has suffered from NEC due to cow’s milk-based formulas such as Enfamil and Similac, you may be entitled to compensation, but you must act quickly and file a suit before the statue of limitations expires.
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