A seemingly safe product may have led to the severe health complications of your newborn infant. That product was the trusted infant formula you fed your child, and that health complication is necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
NEC is a rare disease, affecting roughly one out of 1,000 babies. However, NEC, which damages a baby’s intestines, is more common among premature infants. If not promptly treated, this disease may prove fatal.
Affecting premature infants
Recent research revealed that a possible cause of NEC is cow milk-based infant formula made for premature infants. This group has higher chances of getting NEC compared with newborns fed breast milk.
Babies have a more difficult time digesting cow’s milk-based formula. But, sometimes, medical facilities have no choice but to feed such formula to premature infants who typically do not have the strength to latch on to mothers for breastfeeding.
Symptoms of NEC
Symptoms of NEC may surface differently among infants, however, some of those symptoms may include:
- Abdominal swelling
- Sudden changes in breathing, body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.
- Diarrhea and blood in the stool
- Yellow or green vomit
- Infection
As a number of infants developed NEC, many concerned parents have pursued lawsuits against companies such as Abbott Laboratories – the maker of Similac formula – and Mead Johnson – the maker of Enfamil infant formula.
Do you suspect a link?
Did these companies know about the risks of their infant formula products, and did they continue to market them as safe products for premature infants? The parents say that those manufacturers did. However, the companies deny it. If you suspect a link between infant formula and your child’s illness, find an experienced attorney and pursue legal action.