Premature Infant Formula Injury

Necrotizing Enterocolitis, or NEC for short, is a sickness that affects a baby's stomach and intestines. It's sort of like a really bad tummy bug that can cause some parts of the baby's intestines to get sore and damaged. This disease mostly happens in babies who were born too early, known as premature babies. Still, sometimes, even babies who were born at the right time can get it.

Think of NEC as a tummy trouble that usually starts a couple of weeks after the baby is born, especially after they start drinking milk. This sickness is more common in very tiny babies - those who weigh less than about a small bag of sugar (3 pounds, 5 ounces) at birth. Since these little ones are not fully grown, their tiny tummies can get infections easily and have trouble digesting food or getting enough blood and oxygen. All of these problems make it easier for them to get NEC.

Sometimes, NEC can cause a hole in the baby's intestines. This is bad because the bacteria that usually live in the intestines, which are generally harmless, can leak out and cause an infection in the baby's tummy area. This damage can be in a tiny part of the intestine, or it can spread to bigger areas very quickly.

There isn't just one reason why a baby might get NEC. Being born too early and starting to eat too early when their tummy isn't ready are two big reasons. Also, babies who had a tough time being born and didn't get enough oxygen can get NEC.

Some people think that what's in baby formula or how fast it's given can cause NEC. While babies who drink breast milk can also get NEC, it happens less often to them.