Inflammation of both the small intestine and the colon, usually causing diarrhea, cramping, and abdominal pain.
From 'entero-' (small intestine), 'colo-' (colon), and '-itis' (inflammation). This compound medical term became common in the late 1800s as doctors began distinguishing between different intestinal inflammations.
There's even a special kind called necrotizing enterocolitis that can be life-threatening in premature babies—the same condition that showed doctors that premature infants are extremely vulnerable to infections!
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