What are the key clinical signs and symptoms to consider when diagnosing necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates?

When diagnosing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in neonates, several key clinical signs and symptoms should be considered (Maheshwari et al., 2022).

Early clinical signs of NEC can often be non-specific, similar to other neonatal infections, and may include general signs such as lethargy, poor feeding, and temperature instability ³ (Maheshwari et al., 2022).

More specific gastrointestinal signs commonly observed include abdominal distension, bilious vomiting, bloody stools, and increased gastric residuals (Maheshwari et al., 2022).

Systemic signs that indicate a more severe presentation or progression of NEC can involve apnea and bradycardia (Maheshwari et al., 2022).

These clinical features are crucial for the initial suspicion and diagnosis of NEC (Cai et al., 2023).