colic : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

What is Colic?

Colic is not a disease or diagnosis but a combination of baffling behaviors. It's really just a catch-all term for problem crying in otherwise healthy babies — the problem being, there’s no solution to it besides the passing of time. And it’s common, occurring in 1 in 5 infants. These fussy periods can go on for hours at a time, sometimes late into the night. Worst of all, try as you might — and try you will — it's extremely difficult to calm a colicky baby, which only compounds your own frustration, worry and exhaustion.

What are the symptoms of Colic?

Here are a few further colic signs and symptoms:

• Crying occurs at the same time every day (usually in the late afternoon or early evening, but it can vary).
• Crying seems to occur for no reason (not because baby has a dirty diaper or is hungry or tired).
• Baby may pull up his legs, clench his fists and generally move his legs and arms more.
• He also often will close his eyes or open them very wide, furrow his brow, even hold his breath briefly.
• Bowel activity may increase, and he may pass gas or spit up.
• Eating and sleeping are disrupted by the crying — baby frantically seeks a nipple only to reject it once sucking has begun, or dozes for a few moments only to wake up screaming.

What causes Colic?

The cause or causes of colic are unknown, but a number of theories have been suggested. These include indigestion, trapped wind, or temporary gut sensitivity to certain proteins and sugars found in breast and formula milk. It has also been suggested colic may just be at the extreme end of normal crying in babies. Colic occurs equally in boys and girls, and both in babies who are breastfed and those who are bottle-fed.

How is Colic diagnosed?

A doctor may conduct a physical exam to determine whether anything may be causing the baby's distress, such as an intestinal obstruction. If the baby is found to be otherwise healthy, they will be diagnosed with colic. Laboratory tests or scans are not usually necessary unless the doctor suspects there may be an underlying cause.

What are the treatments of Colic?

Treatments that have been tried include:

• Gas-relief medications. Available over-the-counter, gas-relief medications such as simethicone probably won't do much to ease your baby's symptoms. These medications are generally considered safe, except for babies who have to take thyroid replacement medications.
• Probiotics. Probiotics are substances that help maintain the natural balance of "good" bacteria in the digestive tract. Since babies with colic may have an imbalance of these helpful bacteria, researchers have tried to replace some of these probiotics in a number of studies.