Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal disease that primarily affects premature infants during their early days of life. The condition causes the intestinal wall to become inflamed and begin dying, which can lead to dangerous gas buildup in the intestines and, in severe cases, holes in the intestinal wall that allow waste to leak into the abdominal cavity.
When NEC progresses to an advanced stage, the disease can become life-threatening or lead to permanent complications. For parents of affected infants, watching their newborn battle NEC brings profound emotional trauma alongside the physical challenges their baby faces. Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC have considerable experience with NEC baby formula lawsuits and are prepared to fight for justice on your family’s behalf.
Understanding the Stages and Progression of NEC
When a child is brought in with NEC, doctors will first determine how far the disease has progressed. The staging system helps guide both diagnostic approaches and treatment decisions for affected infants.
There are three main stages of NEC:
- Stage 1: During this stage, infants begin showing subtle but concerning symptoms. Parents and healthcare providers might notice their baby becoming unusually lethargic, showing decreased activity and responsiveness. Reduced appetite, vomiting, bloody stools, abdominal bloating, and slowed heart rate may also occur.
- Stage 2: When an infant enters stage 2, their condition begins to deteriorate. Symptoms are more obvious and new complications may emerge. X-rays typically reveal gas buildup within the intestinal walls, a hallmark sign of NEC. The baby’s abdomen may become tender to touch as well.
- Stage 3: This is the most severe form of NEC. The infection overwhelms the baby’s entire system, causing dangerous drops in blood pressure and white blood cell counts. Inflammation spreads throughout the abdominal cavity, and the intestines may perforate or develop holes that allow bacteria and waste to leak into the abdomen. Without emergency surgical intervention, the condition can rapidly progress to organ failure.
What Is the Prognosis for an Infant with NEC?
The survival rate for infants with NEC can vary based on how quickly the disease is detected and medical attention is sought. Mortality rates range from 10% to 50%, but in severe cases, it can be close to 100%. Survivors often face lasting challenges, such as intestinal scarring and narrowing. Some infants lose substantial portions of their intestines to the infection, leading to long-term nutritional and digestive issues.
Treatment Options and Medical Interventions for NEC
When doctors suspect that an infant has developed NEC, they must act quickly with immediate medical care. The first step involves stopping all feedings and inserting a small tube into the stomach to relieve gas buildup. Formula or breast milk may be replaced with intravenous fluids to provide the child with the nutrients that they need while allowing the intestines to rest and heal. The medical team may also start antibiotic therapy to fight infection and closely monitor the infant’s condition through regular abdominal X-rays, blood tests, and blood gas measurements.
Some cases require surgical intervention, especially if doctors discover intestinal perforation or peritonitis. During surgery, physicians remove damaged bowel tissue and perform a temporary colostomy or ileostomy. Once the infection and inflammation have healed—a process that can take several weeks to months—surgeons will then reconnect the bowel.
The Long-Term Impact of NEC on Infant Health
The effects of NEC can be devastating and far-reaching. Many survivors face significant health challenges that persist throughout their lives, such as:
- Short Gut Syndrome: In severe cases where large portions of the damaged intestine must be surgically removed, infants can develop short gut syndrome. This lifelong condition impairs their ability to absorb essential nutrients and often requires long-term dependence on feeding tubes or intravenous nutrients.
- Developmental Delays: Infants who survive NEC often experience significant neurodevelopmental challenges, including cognitive impairments, cerebral palsy, vision or hearing problems, and motor skill delays. These conditions can affect their ability to reach crucial milestones as they grow up.
- Intestinal Strictures: As the damaged intestinal tissue heals, it can form scar tissue that creates narrow, constricted areas in the intestines, leading to chronic pain and digestive issues. Sometimes, additional surgeries are required throughout the child’s life.
- Malnutrition and Failure to Thrive: Due to compromised intestinal function and reduced nutrient absorption, many NEC survivors struggle with ongoing growth challenges. They may remain in lower height and weight percentiles and face chronic nutritional deficiencies.
Legal Claims for Families of Infants Affected by NEC
NEC has been linked to several possible causes, but one of the most concerning involves exposure to one of the most common products that these infants use: baby formula. Studies have linked certain cow’s milk formulas, including popular brands like Similac and Enfamil, to increased NEC risk in premature infants. Despite this evidence, manufacturers continued marketing these products as safe for vulnerable newborns.
Parents whose infants developed NEC after consuming cow’s milk-based formulas are taking legal action against major manufacturers like Mead Johnson and Abbott Laboratories. These lawsuits allow families to recover compensation to help pay for their children’s extensive care and ongoing needs, such as:
- Past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, hospital stays, and specialized care
- Long-term rehabilitation and therapy services
- Medical equipment and nutritional support
- Lost wages from time away from work to care for the affected child
- Pain and suffering endured by both the infant and the family
- Lifetime care costs for permanent disabilities or developmental delays
NEC lawsuits can be complex, but an attorney can help families navigate the legal process while building a strong case against formula manufacturers. A lawyer can help leverage scientific evidence linking cow’s milk formula to NEC and work with medical experts to demonstrate how the manufacturers’ failure to warn about these risks directly contributed to an infant’s suffering and subsequent damages.
Speak to an Attorney at Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC Today
If your child was diagnosed with NEC, you know how painful and devastating this condition can be. When baby formula is to blame for the harm that your child has been through, your family deserves justice. Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC is dedicated to fighting for the rights of those harmed by these defective products and holding manufacturers accountable.
We are representing families in NEC cases nationwide and can guide your family on the path to fair compensation. Take the first step toward holding negligent companies accountable—contact us today at (800) 220-0984 to schedule a free consultation with our NEC baby formula lawsuit attorneys.