Similac and Enfamil, infant formula brands, have lately been in the news, and not for the right reasons.
The manufacturers knew these baby formulas posed the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Unfortunately, they failed to warn customers and medical professionals of this risk.
Parents of affected or deceased babies are filing NEC baby formula lawsuits against Similac and Enfamil’s manufacturers. But it may be a little too late for justice in some instances.
Understanding the signs of NEC can help protect your baby from permanent complications, death, or even high medical costs.
What Is Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)?
Necrotizing is the capacity to kill healthy tissue. Enterocolitis is a disorder that causes inflammation in the intestines and the colon, among other digestive system organs.
These two concepts form necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) when they come together. NEC is a potentially harmful medical disorder that can cause perforations in or damage the intestines.
Because of the damage, there is a chance for pathogenic germs to reach the bloodstream or stomach and cause gastrointestinal diseases.
Severe infections, specifically in vulnerable individuals, can be damaging even only by their symptoms. Fevers can damage the brain; necrosis can impair organ performance, and contagious diseases can put people nearby at risk.
What Is NEC in Babies?
The ugly reality is that NEC usually targets vulnerable infants, particularly preterm or underweight ones. Of the 480,000 preterm babies born in the United States alone each year, NEC affects 9,000 of them every year.
The main reason is that smaller and preterm newborns have yet to grow a thicker gut lining for protection. Birth-related trauma and infections already present can further increase the risk of contracting NEC.
When Are Infants at Risk for NEC?
When a baby’s oxygen levels are low, the body goes into triage mode and directs oxygen that should have flowed to the intestines to other indispensable functions.
The decreased oxygen supply can hamper the intestine’s ability to develop normally, creating a perfect chance for NEC to develop.
NEC can exacerbate an underlying intestinal illness for apparent reasons. The perforations made by the NEC allow the intestine-infecting bacteria to escape and invade the entire body.
NEC usually occurs in an infant’s first days of life. Coincidentally, infants will likely be fed formula at this time in the hospital.
Babies receive formula via a feeding tube when they cannot breastfeed or feed via their mouths.
Recognizing Symptoms of NEC in Your Infant
If you are the parent of a preterm child, you are probably already anxious because your child was born earlier than expected.
You should never have to fret that the vital nourishment meant to support their growth would cause them harm.
That is why it is crucial to recognize the symptoms of NEC. The symptoms of NEC can differ from infant to infant and be difficult for already exhausted parents to differentiate from other less serious digestive problems.
NEC signs may appear abruptly or develop gradually over several weeks. Parents are frequently a crucial line of protection against NEC since they understand what is normal for their babies.
If your baby received infant formula, observe the typical NEC symptoms to identify the disease early.
NECs severity cannot be trivialized. If you think your kid could have NEC, it is advisable to be extra careful and get them checked out by a doctor, mainly if the hospital fed them formula.
What Are NEC Symptoms in Babies?
If you notice strange behavior in your infant, including a passive demeanor, lack of enthusiasm, or reluctance to feed, this could indicate something is amiss with your baby.
Stomach bloating and touch sensitivity in the abdomen are additional apparent signs. Swelling is typically linked to infection and inflammation. It is the same even internally.
Moreover, changes in body fluids, like green vomit and bloody stool, could be signs of digestive disorders.
While first-time parents may be adjusting to all bodily fluids a baby releases, the bloody stool is never natural.
And although newborns frequently spit up, green spit or vomit is bile, which can indicate an intestinal problem.
Irregular rhythms, infection, or respiratory distress can indicate NEC
You should be on the lookout if your infant presents any of the symptoms mentioned above, along with other signs like an irregular heart rate, a fever, or irregular breathing.
Fever is a sign of infection, and it can be fatal in infants under three months old. It is time to consult a physician if the rectal temperature of your infant is higher than 100.4° F.
You may check heart rate at home. Lay two fingers on the infant’s inner upper arm, set your timer to 15 seconds, and tally the pulses.
Infants tend to writhe. So, multiply the result by four instead of counting for a whole minute. Average infant bpm ranges between 90 and 170, so you know where your baby falls.
How Can Baby Formula Lead to NEC in Infants?
A vulnerable newborn can contract NEC in several ways. Still, few are as heinous as an infant formula manufacturer failing to warn about a product that should otherwise be essential.
Mothers might still be recuperating after preterm birth, making it possible that they may need help from other people to employ enteral feeding techniques to feed their babies on formula.
Feeding formula to preterm newborns as a nutritional supplement is not unusual, especially when the mother is unwell after delivery.
Sadly, formulas like Enfamil and Similac, which contain cow milk, have been repeatedly associated with NEC in studies. The newborn is at a higher risk of getting NEC if these products are given in the medical facility (or subsequently at home).
Unfortunately, there are instances of medical malpractice that result in NEC. But most medical professionals work to protect newborns and do everything to avert and diagnose NEC.
Yet, if NEC is left untreated, it can develop into a fatal infection that a baby’s immature immune system may be unable to fight, leading to severe complications, permanent disabilities, and infant mortality.
Who Is Liable for NEC Baby Formula Symptoms and Damages?
The businesses that design, produce, distribute, and sell NEC-causing infant formula may be held legally accountable for the damages that result from their product.
NEC frequently results in significant damages. The parents of affected babies have the legal right to pursue compensation from businesses like Mead Johnson and Abbott by filing a product liability lawsuit.
You could file an NEC baby formula lawsuit with the help of a lawyer to seek damages if your baby was diagnosed with NEC after consuming baby formula at the hospital.
File an NEC Baby Formula Lawsuit Today
Nothing will ever be able to make up for a parent’s loss of a child. Furthermore, even if your baby survives NEC, it might suffer permanent complications.
You could struggle to pay for your baby’s future medical treatment or be overcome by funeral and medical expenses.
In the meantime, you could be struggling to cope with your child’s death, evade medical debt collection agencies, and the agony that comes with such challenging circumstances.
If your child consumed baby formula and later had NEC, you may file a product liability lawsuit to pursue the compensation you deserve.
You need a devoted and empathetic NEC baby formula lawsuit lawyer to advocate for you during this trying period. Legal Giant can connect you with an experienced lawyer knowledgeable about these cases.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.
