Attention Parents of Children with Necrotizing Enterocolitis Symptoms

Updated reports on the danger Simply Thick food thickening gel poses to premature infants continue to surface. As the information mounts, our Simply Thick Recall lawyer passes the reports on to families whose children consumed the product. The investigation began after the manufacturer issued a recall of certain varieties of the gel due to the deaths of two children who were given the product. They died from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a condition in which the intestinal tissue becomes inflamed and dies.

Now, the FDA is in the process of investigating many more injuries that may have resulted from the product’s use. Please pay close attention to the symptoms of NEC and report them to your medical professional immediately should your children display any after taking a Simply Thick product.

Families need each new piece of information to understand what steps should be taken to ensure their children’ safety. Even weeks after the recall, concerned individuals are contacting our offices with suspicions that their child may have suffered from the use of the product. Our Simply Thick attorney knows that few are willing to excuse negligent errors if their families’ health falls into question. Families need to familiarize themselves with symptoms of NEC so they can catch it in their infants should the condition develop.

In premature babies, the digestive tract is not well developed and can become easily inflamed, according to information provided by the Seattle Children’s Hospital. A lack of blood flow to the bowels and a build-up of bacteria in the under-developed digestive tract are two factors that some doctors believe can trigger NEC. An intestinal wall lining that becomes inflamed can die, and dead tissue detaches from rest of the organ. The tissue must be removed or it can inflame other organs. This is how NEC affects the rest of the body.

Time and again, premature infants have proven to be the most at risk group for NEC. The disorder commonly occurs while the child is still hospitalized, but can also manifest itself after the family takes him or her home.

While NEC can affect different patients in different ways, experts say parents and doctors should watch for the following symptoms:

Bloated abdominal area
Feeding intolerance
Greenish-tinged vomiting
Bloody stools
Lethargy
Chronic Diarrhea

Treatment for NEC varies depending on the stage of the disease, but many times an operation is needed to close intestinal holes or treat the inflamed abdominal wall. Doctors also need to remove any dead tissue and perform a colostomy. Weeks later, after the bowel has healed from the surgical procedure, it is reconnected. 25% of patients die from NEC, and survivors may face a lifetime of repercussions. Acting quickly and aggressively increases a child’s chance at recovery.

If your or a loved one’s child has taken Simply Thick and has experienced the necrotizing enterocolitis symptoms listed above, please CONTACT the law offices of Shrader & Associates for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn your legal rights.