Term	Definition
Paroxysms	A sudden recurrence or intensification of symptoms such as a spasm or seizure. Also called paroxysmal attacks.
Dysmotility	A condition in which muscles of the digestive system become impaired and changes in the speed, strength or coordination in the digestive organs occurs. In the normal small intestine, liquefied food and secretions, including digestive enzymes are pushed onwards by waves of muscular contraction.
Oligosaccharides	A saccharide polymer (complex carbohydrate) containing a small number of simple sugars, which are not digestible by humans, and instead function as prebiotics to support the growth of certain types of bacteria in the gut.
Microbiota	"the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms that literally share our body space." (Lederberg 2001)
Microbiome	The microorganisms in a particular environment (including the body or a part of the body).
Coliforms	Coliform bacteria are an indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water. They ferment lactose with the production of acid and gas. Coliforms can be found in the aquatic environment, in soil and on vegetation; they are universally present in large numbers in the faeces of warm‐blooded animals. While coliforms themselves are not normally causes of serious illness, they are easy to culture, and their presence is used to indicate that other pathogenic organisms of faecal origin may be present. Such pathogens include disease‐causing bacteria, viruses, or protozoa and many multicellular parasites. Coliform procedures may be performed in aerobic or anaerobic conditions.
Necrotising enterocolitis	A medical condition primarily seen in premature infants where portions of the bowel undergo necrosis (tissue death). It occurs postnatally and is one of the most common causes of morbidity in premature infants.
Enteritis	Inflammation of the intestine, especially the small intestine, usually accompanied by diarrhoea.