Necrotizing enterocolitis beyond the neonatal period.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is usually considered to be a neonatal disease, and is rarely described beyond the newborn period. During the last 15 years, 19 infants from the Negev region, Israel, with NEC were beyond the neonatal age group (range = 34-616 days, median = 90 days). Of this group only 16% were born prematurely, and only 16% had perinatal or neonatal pathology. Diarrhea and dehydration preceding NEC were common as was malnutrition. Bacteremia was detected in 42%. The mortality rate was 90%. Malnutrition, supposedly contributed to the formation of NEC and to the high mortality rate among these infants.