Enterocolitis (or "coloenteritis") is an inflammation of both the small and large intestine. However, most conditions are categorized as one or the other of the following: Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ... The intestine is the portion of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine. ...
Necrotizing enterocolitis develops in 2,000 to 4,000 newborns annually, and affects 1% to 8% of all newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care units in the United States.
While there appears to be no single cause of necrotizing enterocolitis, research has identified a number of risk factors, including prematurity, hypoxic injury (injury caused by a decrease in oxygen supply to body tissue), maternal drug use, and early feedings in premature babies with an immature gut.
The management of necrotizing enterocolitis depends on the severity of the disease, the infant's response to medical treatment and the degree of bowel involvement.
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