About Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
Necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, is a potentially life-threatening condition recognized by the inflammation and death of intestinal tissue. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) happens if the inside lining of the intestinal wall begins to die and the tissue within begins to separate. It is believed that lowered blood flow into the bowel stops the bowel from preventing mucus meant to protect the gastrointestinal tract. Another potential cause of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) could be bacteria inside the intestines.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is often developed in infants who are premature or otherwise ill already to begin with. Typically NEC is developed while the infant is still in the hospital. Recent troubling medical findings, however, have discovered that a potential cause of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) could be popular thickening agent SimplyThick. SimplyThick is a formula thickening agent sometimes added to a mother’s breast milk or infant formula. SimplyThick is meant to help infants with reflux or swallowing difficulties.
SimplyThick NEC Complications
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first warned about the potential risks of SimplyThick among infants in May of 2011. There were two reports of infants suffering from NEC after being given the thickening agent. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aware of at least two deaths that can likely be attributable to using a thickening agent like SimplyThick and the development of NEC after the infant has left the hospital.
Researchers believe that the reason for developing NEC in these infants could be due to the Xanthan gum found in SimplyThick and some other thickening agents used in breast milk and infant formula. The exact way that NEC occurs in these infants is not fully understood, but some medical professionals have suggested that the introduction of any non-natural substance like the gum could be bad for an infant’s undeveloped intestines.
An article was published in May of 2012 in the Journal of Pediatrics titled, “Late Onset Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Infants Following Use of Xanthan Gum-containing Thickening Agent.” Within the study, researchers reported noticing that many of the infants developing NEC while on these thickening agents like SimplyThick were full-term infants, not premature. Typically, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is more common among premature infants, so this evidence seems to suggest a higher risk of NEC when taking the thickening agent.
NEC Lawsuits: Contact a Lawyer
If your child is currently suffering or has suffered from Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), and they took a thickening agent like SimplyThick to supplement breast milk or formula, you may have a potential NEC lawsuit against the makers of the thickening agent. Women across the nation are currently filing NEC lawsuits on behalf of their infants suffering from this dangerous condition. Our NEC Lawyers are currently standing by ready to offer a free consultation for your potential NEC lawsuit.