Abstract
During a two year period, 8 infants developed N.E.C. following hospitalization for diarrhea and dehydration. All had a normal neonatal course. The mean age on admission was 40 ± 32 days (mean ± S.D.) with a range of 17 to 106 days. The infants were diagnosed as having N.E.C. at 2 to 64 days (mean 13.7 ± 20)after admission for gastroenteritis. All of the infants were significantly malnourished with weight less than 3%ile for age, and an Arm/F.O.C. ratio of 0.25 ± 0.01 in 5 of 8 patients measured. All of the infants were in the refeeding process following their acute diarrhea when they were found to develop N.E.C. Carbohydrate intolerance was found in 3 of 8 patients and guaiac positive stools in 7 of 8 patients. Radiographically, pneumotosis intestinales was reported in 5 of 8 with edema of the bowel wall in 8 of 8 cases. A mean WBC count of 13.75 ± 4.73 (×103), with 28.2 ± 17.8% bands was noted. Malnutrition seems to be a significant risk factor in developing N.E.C. in post-neonatal infants. Infants admitted with malnutrition and diarrheal disease should be evaluated carefully for N.E.C. if guaiac positive stools and a bandemia are noted during the refeeding period.
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Malphus, E., Krishna, G. & Nichols, B. 595 NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS (N.E.C.) AND GASTROENTERITIS IN POST-NEONATAL TERM INFANTS. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 539 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00608
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00608
