Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day

What is Necrotizing Enterocolitis?

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common cause of death in hospitalized premature infants after two weeks of age. Babies born prematurely or with a medical complication, such as congenital heart disease, are most at risk of NEC.

Key Facts About NEC

• Thousands of babies develop NEC each year and hundreds of babies die from this complex condition.
• Necrotizing enterocolitis causes a severe inflammatory process that can lead to intestinal tissue damage and death, with many babies only living for a few hours or days after diagnosis.
• Surgery for NEC is not curative, and survivors often have lifelong neurological and nutritional complications.

Raising Awareness About NEC

The resolution recognizes the importance of raising awareness about necrotizing enterocolitis and expresses support for its designation as a national awareness day. By bringing Americans together to raise awareness, we can work towards building a world without this devastating neonatal disease.

Prevention is Key

While the risk of NEC cannot be fully eliminated, preventative measures are effective at reducing risks. Breast milk is one of the most effective ways to help prevent necrotizing enterocolitis in medically fragile infants, followed by pasteurized donor human milk when the mother’s milk is unavailable.

The Impact of Disparities and Variation in Care

Disparities and variation in care lead to Black infants being disproportionately affected by NEC and dying at a higher rate compared to White infants. We need more data to better understand how and why NEC occurs in preterm and term infants.

A Call to Action

“Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—1 (1) recognizes the importance of raising awareness about necrotizing enterocolitis; and2 (2) expresses support for the designation of “Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day”.”

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