title: [Necrotizing enterocolitis: a historical and current review].
abstract: Enteritis necroticans, locally called "Darmbrand", is a severe and life threatening infectious disease which was epidemic in Northern Germany after World War II. Darmbrand had a limited appearance, occurring only for a few years. In Lübeck many cases were diagnosed in 1946/1948 and the book "Darmbrand, Enteritis necroticans" was published in 1949 by clinicians and pathologists. Enteritis necroticans is also known as a tropical cause of bloody diarrhea and is caused by Clostridium perfringens Type C (type beta-toxin). The disease is related to pig feasts in Papua New Guinea. Although necrotizing enterocolitis is now a rather rare disease we must be aware of the appearance of this fulminant entity. This paper represents a review on the historic and current aspects of enteritis necroticans and discusses the epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik I, Medizinischen Universität Lübeck.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kreft
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dalhoff
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sack
mesh_terms: D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000266:history; D004403:Dysentery / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D013217:Starvation / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins