Necrotizing enterocolitis: an overlooked life-threatening complication of acute diarrhoeal illness in infants and children

Summary

A 7-month-old girl developed necrotizing enterocolitis with extensive pneumatosis intestinalis following an acute diarrhoeal illness. This was preceded by the use of an anti-motility drug and repeated attacks of paralytic ileus. It is noteworthy that all the published cases of necrotizing enterocolitis following acute diarrhoeal illness in infants and children are from tropical countries. This might be related to the use of anti-diarrhoeal drugs and associated malnutrition resulting in hypokalaemia and hypoalbuminaemia.