NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS IN CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 48 DAYS AND24 MONTHS

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the pre-eminent gastrointestinal di sorder encountered among stressed premature infants in neonatal intens ive care units. Thirty-one sporadic cases of gastroenteritis occurred in children between the ages of 48 days and 24 months who presented wi th varying degrees of septicemia, hypovolemic shock, hypotension, meta bolic acidosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. These pati ents developed clinical features and radiologic signs characteristic o f neonatal NEC. The occurrence of NEC in children as a sequel to gastr oenteritis and its etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, laborato ry data, radiologic findings, and outcome are discussed.