Premature infants often have trouble nursing or need extra nutrition to address a variety of health conditions, in turn, many parents supplement their nutrition with baby formula. When parents make this choice, they have a right to expect that baby formulas will be safe for their child. However, cow’s-milk based formulas, Similac and Enfamil specifically intended for preterm babies, have been linked to the deadly condition necrotizing enterocolitis or NEC.
What is NEC?
NEC, or necrotizing enterocolitis is a severe medical condition affecting the intestines of premature infants. The symptoms of NEC include:
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Bloody diarrhea
- Green or yellow vomit
- Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and breathing
- Feeding issues
- Failure to gain weight
- Lethargy
NEC causes intestinal tissue to die, allowing bacteria to spill into the baby’s abdomen, and leading to a myriad of health problems, including:
- Peritonitis
- Sepsis
- Narrowing of the intestines
- Short bowel syndrome
- Growth failure
- Neurodevelopmental issues
- Death
Many infants who develop NEC make a full recovery, however, the effects of the condition often require surgery to repair the damage done to the child’s abdomen and intestine. Some babies who have undergone surgery may be unable to absorb nutrients normally and may require a bowel transplant to survive. There is no way to prevent NEC, although research has shown that preterm babies who were only fed breast milk are less likely to develop the disease than those who ingested formula.
NEC Lawsuits Being Filed
Many lawsuits are being filed against formula makers Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson & Company by parents whose premature babies suffered severe injuries or death after receiving the companies’ cow’s-milk based formula products. These lawsuits allege that the companies never issued warnings outlining the risks associated with cow’s-milk based formulas, even though they were aware, or should have been aware, of the dangers.
Childers, Schlueter & Smith may be able to help. If your child suffered severe injuries after ingesting Enfamil or Similac baby formulas, contact us at 404-419-9500.
Other NEC Baby Formula News
The fight for justice isn’t over—parents now get a second chance after a rare defense victory was overturned for attorney misconduct.
MDL 3026 marks a critical step toward justice for families affected by NEC-linked infant formulas. Firm Partner C. Andrew Childers advocated for swift, centralized handling of these cases.
Enfamil and Similac manufacturers face lawsuits for allegedly failing to warn parents that their premature baby formulas could increase the risk of NEC, a life-threatening condition in preemies.
A new study shows NEC risk in premature infants drops significantly when donor breast milk is used instead of cow's milk-based formula. If your child was harmed by a preterm infant formula, legal options may be available to you.
Studies link cow’s-milk based baby formula to a dramatically increased risk of NEC, yet many formula manufacturers have not disclosed these risks to parents of preterm babies.
