SABR

Necrotising Enter Colitis

NEC is an acute inflammatory disease occurring in the intestines of premature infants; causing extensive ulceration and necrosis of the ileum and colon. Even though NEC has been documented in German literature since as early as 1825 the causes for the infection remain largely unknown. Morbidity and Mortality rates associated with NEC are high where the overall incidence varies between 0.9 per 1000 births and 2.5 per 1000 births and rising. “NEC is responsible for 1.9% of all neonatal deaths in the US” (Updegrove, 2004: 335-36).

Whilst the cause for the disease is unclear it is possible to identify controllable risk factors. Studies have clearly linked NEC with the initiation of oral feeding and a growing body of literature advocates the protective effect of human milk against NEC.

“Human milk, whether mother ’s own or donor, provides significant protection against many of the known risk factors of NEC as well as therapeutic protection for the infant recovering from NEC”. (Updegrove, 2004: 335-36)