Necrotizing enterocolitis common in third week after birth among very preterm, low birthweight infants

Written By : Aditi

Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Published On 2023-09-11 14:30 GMT | Update On 2023-09-11 14:30 GMT

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal medical/surgical emergency occurring in neonates. Focal intestinal perforation (FIP) is an acquired neonatal intestinal disease, defined as a single or occasionally multiple perforations, typically in the terminal ileum and histologically distinct from NEC.

The Original Research, “Age of onset of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and focal intestinal perforation (FIP) in very preterm and low birthweight infants: a systematic review”, mentioned the onset of necrotizing enterocolitis at the third week for very preterm, low birthweight infants.

The main objective of the present study was to review the Age of onset of Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and focal intestinal perforation (FIP) in very preterm (≤32 weeks) and very low birth weight (VLBW, ≤1500 g) infants.

In this study, the databases used were MEDLINE/ PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

Researchers extracted the Age of onset as a day of life (DOL) and corrected gestational Age (CGA) alongside study information.

The key results of this study are:

· Total of 747 studies were screened, and 188 were eligible

· After eliminating duplicate and ineligible studies,10 RCTs and 14 observational studies were left.

· This contributed to 51 NEC cohorts; 49 reported onset DOL and 14 CGA.

· 2984 cases of Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) had average DOL onset of 16.7 and CGA onset of 30.1 weeks.

· There was no impact of Gestation on DOL onset.

· Demographic features were not known to impact Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) onset.

Concluding further, they said the Average onset of Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in exclusively very preterm/very low birth weight infants is in the third week of life and, unlike in cohorts, including more mature or heavier infants, is not impacted by birth gestation.

Given its importance to neonatal medicine, standardised reporting for all studies where NEC is a primary or secondary outcome would improve mechanistic and trial understanding.

Further reading:

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/7/e070638.long

Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.

NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.

Aditi

Dr. Aditi Yadav is a BDS, MDS in Periodontics and Implantology. She has a clinical experience of 5 years as a laser dental surgeon. She also has a Diploma in clinical research and pharmacovigilance and is a Certified data scientist. She is currently working as a content developer in e-health services. Dr. Yadav has a keen interest in Medical Journalism and is actively involved in Medical Research writing.

Comments Policy

Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Necrotizing enterocolitis common in third week after birth among very preterm, low birthweight infants

Similar News

Most Knee Deformities from Healed Rickets Self-Correct in Children Under 8, Study Finds

JAPI Releases Dedicated Supplement Addressing Clinical Needs for Adult Vaccination in India

EEG-Guided Anesthesia Reduces Sevoflurane Use and Emergence Delirium in Children: JAMA

Pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension Deaths Drop by 58 Percent, But India Remains Worst-Hit: Study Reveals

Lingual Braces Reduce Risk of White Spot Lesions in Energy Drink Consuming Teens: Study

Medical Bulletin 16/Jul/2025

Socioeconomic Status Influences Communication Outcomes in Children with Cochlear Implants: Study

Sleep data from wearable device may help predict preterm birth: Study