Colic Health Article

Definition

Colic is persistent, unexplained crying in a healthy baby between two weeks and five months of age.

Description

Colic, which is not a disease, affects 10–20% of all infants. It is more common in boys than in girls and most common in a family's first child. Symptoms of colic usually appear when a baby is 14–21 days old, reach a crescendo at the age of three months, and disappear within the next eight weeks. Episodes occur frequently but intermittently and usually begin with prolonged periods of crying in the late afternoon or evening. They can last for just a few minutes or continue for several hours. Some babies who have colic are simply fussy. Others cry so hard that their faces turn red, then pale.

Causes and symptoms

No one knows what causes colic. The condition may be the result of swallowing large amounts of air, which becomes trapped in the digestive tract and causes bloating and severe abdominal pain.

Other possible causes of colic include:

• digestive tract immaturity
• food intolerances
• hunger or overfeeding
• lack of sleep
• loneliness
• overheated milk or formula
• overstimulation resulting from noise, light, or activity
• tension

During a colicky episode, babies' bellies often look swollen, feel hard, and make a rumbling sound. Crying intensifies, tapers off, then gets louder. Many babies grow rigid, clench their fists, curl their toes, and draw their legs toward their body. A burp or a bowel movement can end an attack. Most babies who have colic don't seem to be in pain between attacks.

Diagnosis

Pediatricians and family physicians suspect colic in an infant who:

• has cried loudly for at least three hours a day at least three times a week for three weeks or longer
• is not hungry but cries for several hours between dinnertime and midnight
• demonstrates the clenched fists, rigidity, and other physical traits associated with colic

The baby's medical history and a parent's description of eating, sleeping, and crying patterns are used to confirm a diagnosis of colic. Physical examination and laboratory tests are used to rule out infection, intestinal blockage, and other conditions that can cause abdominal pain and other colic-like symptoms.