What is the cause of acute necrotizing enteritis in newborns

Neonatal acute necrotizing enteritis is an acquired disease that causes diffuse or localized necrosis of the small intestine and colon. Children with the disease often experience clinical symptoms such as abdominal distension and vomiting, especially premature infants, who are more likely to develop these diseases.

1. Necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants may be related to intestinal ischemia, hypoxia or diet

(1) Intestinal wall hypoxia and ischemia When the body is hypoxic, blood is redistributed to ensure supply to important organs such as the heart and brain. At this time, the mesenteric blood vessels contract and intestinal blood flow decreases to 35%-50% of the normal level. If ischemia persists or reperfusion occurs after ischemia, it may cause intestinal mucosal damage. Such as neonatal asphyxia, hyaline membrane disease, umbilical artery catheterization, polycythemia, hypotension, shock, etc.

(2) Dietary factors: The gastrointestinal function of premature infants is immature, and digestion, absorption and local immune response are low. For example, hypertonic breast milk or hypertonic drug solutions can damage the intestinal mucosa, and the nutrients in food are conducive to bacterial growth and carbohydrate fermentation to produce gas.

2. Late neonatal and infant necrotizing enterocolitis

It is mostly caused by direct bacterial infection, such as excessive reproduction of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella, Clostridium, etc., which invade the intestinal mucosa and cause damage, or cause sepsis and toxic shock that aggravate intestinal damage.