doi:10.5402/2012/562594 Review Article Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Very Low BirthWeight Infants: A Systemic Review

License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common serious gastrointestinal disorder affecting very preterm or very low birth weight infants. The risk is inversely proportional to gestational age and weight at birth. Fetal growth restriction and compromise may be additional specific risk factors. Despite extensive research and animal studies etiopathogenesis, preventive strategies and management options remain controversial. The present paper reviews the literature for recent advances and newer insights for changing epidemiological trends, pathogenesis, role of inflammatory cytokines, and various preventive and management strategies. 1