Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe intestinal disease that primarily affects some of the most vulnerable people in our society: premature infants. This condition occurs when tissue in the small or large intestine becomes inflamed, damaged, and begins to die.
While some infants recover with proper medical care, many face lifelong complications that affect their growth, development, and quality of life. For families of premature infants, an NEC diagnosis often marks the beginning of a difficult, lifelong journey filled with doctor’s visits and specialized treatments. After receiving such a diagnosis, contacting a NEC baby formula injury attorney can help your family win justice for harm caused by a preventable medical error.
Immediate Complications After an NEC Diagnosis
Symptoms of NEC can be difficult to spot at first, but they can easily advance and lead to life-threatening complications. If you suspect that something is wrong with your child, seek medical care immediately. Some of the first signs of this condition include:
- Abdominal swelling
- Diarrhea with blood
- Green or yellow vomit
- Refusal to eat
- Lethargy
- Changes in heart rate, body temperature, breathing, and blood pressure
When NEC progresses, the condition can create perforations in the intestinal walls, allowing bacteria to leak into the abdominal cavity. These perforations frequently lead to life-threatening infections and sepsis. Many babies require surgery to repair the holes in their intestines and prevent these conditions from occurring.
The intestinal damage from NEC often creates difficulties with nutrient absorption. Babies may struggle to process essential calories and nutrients needed for growth and development. To support the baby without placing additional stress on the digestive system, medical teams often use intravenous nutrition or feeding tubes.
Long-Term Consequences: Intestinal Strictures
An intestinal stricture is a narrowing of the intestine that prevents food from passing through normally. NEC can cause these strictures to develop as the intestinal tissue heals and forms scar tissue, which can happen in the months after initial treatment.
Strictures from NEC most commonly appear in babies who did not need initial surgery to remove dead tissue. When this condition develops, food cannot pass properly through the narrowed section of the intestine. This can lead to symptoms like bloody stools, inability to gain weight, and intestinal blockages.
Treatment for NEC-related strictures usually involves surgery to widen the narrowed intestinal sections. With proper surgical treatment and follow-up care, most babies recover well from this complication. However, they may need ongoing monitoring to prevent strictures from developing in the future.
Long-Term Consequences: Short-Gut Syndrome
Short-gut syndrome, also called short bowel syndrome, occurs when NEC damages or destroys large portions of the small intestine. This condition prevents the body from properly absorbing fluids, nutrients, and calories from food. The severity depends on how much intestinal tissue the surgeons need to remove during NEC treatment.
Children with short-gut syndrome require specialized medical care throughout their lives. Most need either intravenous nutrition or feeding tubes during their first few years. They often require carefully planned diets created by nutritionists, special hydration solutions, and vitamin supplements. While challenging to manage, many children adapt to their condition over time with proper medical support and dietary adjustments.
Long-Term Consequences: Developmental Delays
Developmental delays affect many NEC survivors, especially those who require surgery. These delays can impact multiple areas of development, including physical growth, cognitive function, and motor skills. The risk of these issues increases with the severity of the original NEC diagnosis.
The extended hospitalizations, nutritional challenges, and medical complications associated with NEC can all interfere with normal development patterns. Children who survive NEC often need regular developmental assessments and early intervention. These may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. While some children catch up to their peers over time, others require ongoing support throughout their school years.
Legal Options for Families of Children Affected by NEC
The financial impact of caring for a child with NEC can be overwhelming. Medical expenses often include extended hospital stays, multiple surgical procedures, and regular monitoring and follow-up care. If a child develops a long-term complication, they may also require ongoing specialized treatment, long-term therapy and developmental services, and nutritional and dietary support.
Families whose premature infants developed NEC after consuming cow’s milk-based formula may be entitled to legal action. Nationwide, lawsuits are being filed against the manufacturers of premature infant formulas like Enfamil and Similac. These claims allege that these companies failed to warn healthcare providers and parents about the increased risk of NEC associated with their products.
To qualify for an NEC formula lawsuit, families must demonstrate that their premature infant:
- Received cow’s milk-based formula associated with NEC
- Subsequently developed NEC
- Suffered serious complications or passed away as a result of NEC
By filing a lawsuit, your family can recover compensation for all medical expenses associated with caring for your child—including immediate and future costs. You can also secure compensation for lost wages while caring for your child, emotional distress that your family experienced, and pain and suffering endured by your child. In cases of infant death, you may also be eligible for funeral and burial expenses.
While no amount of money could ever reverse the trauma of NEC, these lawsuits can provide peace of mind during an exceptionally difficult time. Additionally, these claims serve a broader purpose by holding formula manufacturers accountable for their products’ safety and marketing practices.
Trust Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC to Help You Seek Justice
The journey through an NEC diagnosis and its aftermath requires immense strength. If your child developed this condition after using certain Enfamil or Similac formulas, you may qualify for legal action. In these situations, Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC can fight for the compensation that your child needs and deserves.
We are representing victims of NEC nationwide in their claims against Mead Johnson and Abbott Laboratories. Our attorneys will handle every aspect of your legal claim while you focus on your child’s care. We thoroughly investigate your case, work with expert witnesses, and build the strongest possible case for your child’s recovery. Along the way, we will always take the time to answer your questions and provide important updates so that you know what to expect.
Our lawyers know what it takes to hold these large manufacturers accountable. Contact us today at (800) 220-0984 for a free consultation and learn how our NEC baby formula lawsuit attorneys can support your rights.