INFANTILE COLIC:
Baby colic (also known as infantile colic) is defined as episodes of crying for more than three hours a day for more than three days a week for three weeks in an otherwise healthy child between the ages of two weeks and four months. The cause of colic is generally unknown.
Fewer than 5% of infants with excess crying have an underlying organic cause.
It often disappears when the baby is three to four months old, but can last up to one year. Colic typically does not result in long term problems.
An infant with colic may affect family stability and be a cause of short-term anxiety or depression in the mother. It may also contribute to exhaustion and stress in the parents.
It often disappears when the baby is three to four months old, but can last up to one year. Colic typically does not result in long term problems.
An infant with colic may affect family stability and be a cause of short-term anxiety or depression in the mother. It may also contribute to exhaustion and stress in the parents.
Causes:
- Despite decades of research, the actual cause of infantile colic remains unknown.
- Infantile colic may be caused by the impact of abnormal gastrointestinal motility and pain signals from sensitized pathways in the gut viscera.
- Smoking and also nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy have been shown to be risk factors for baby colic.
- There is an increased risk of infantile colic in preterm and small for gestational age infants.
- Baby colic may be associated with cow's milk allergy or lactose intolerance in some cases.
- The composition of intestinal micro biota, especially an inadequate amount of lactobacilli and an increased concentration of coliforms, has been suggested in some studies to influence the pathogenesis of baby colic.
- Food allergies have been advocated as a possible cause of infantile colic.
- Behavioral issues such as family tension, parental anxiety, or inadequate parent-infant interaction have also been explored as causative factors for infantile colic.
Signs and Symptoms
All babies get fussy sometimes. But colic is more severe. Colic symptoms include:
All babies get fussy sometimes. But colic is more severe. Colic symptoms include:
- Crying for more than 3 hours, at least 3 times a week, over the course of at least 3 weeks, although the baby is otherwise healthy
- Kicking a lot, pulling the legs up close, and making tight fists
- The baby's tummy seems hard, and the baby burps and passes gas often
- Crying that sounds like your baby is in great pain
- Spitting up frequently after feeding
Management:
For the majority of cases simple reassurance is all that is required.
For the majority of cases simple reassurance is all that is required.
- The parents of infants with colic often require support, as they will be anxious as to the cause of the crying and their apparent inability to help the child.
- A caring and compassionate healthcare professional is extremely important in the management of colic.
- General advice to the parents may be all that is needed in terms of feeding regimes, temperature of the child's room, and clothing worn by the child, together with an explanation of the likely course of the condition.
- Parents may be advised to share childcare with each other and friends/grandparents until this stage has passed, in order to prevent physical/mental exhaustion.
- Putting the child on shoulder or abdomen after feeding and allow it to burp prevents colic in most cases.
Diet:
Dietary changes by infants are generally not needed. In mothers who are breastfeeding, a hypoallergenic diet by the mother — not eating milk products, eggs, wheat, or nuts — may improve matters. (See below!) If symptoms are due to a cow milk allergy switching to a soy-based or hydrolyzed protein formula may help. Evidence of benefit is greater for hydrolyzed protein formula with the benefit from soy based formula being disputed. Additionally, both these formulas have greater cost and are not as palatable. Supplementation with fiber has no benefit.
Dietary changes by infants are generally not needed. In mothers who are breastfeeding, a hypoallergenic diet by the mother — not eating milk products, eggs, wheat, or nuts — may improve matters. (See below!) If symptoms are due to a cow milk allergy switching to a soy-based or hydrolyzed protein formula may help. Evidence of benefit is greater for hydrolyzed protein formula with the benefit from soy based formula being disputed. Additionally, both these formulas have greater cost and are not as palatable. Supplementation with fiber has no benefit.
Eliminating foods that cause gas and using supportive herbal or homeopathic therapies may help your baby's colic. In some cases, colic may be caused by a hidden food allergy and you may need to switch formula or food.
Probiotics -- Some research suggests that these "friendly bacteria" may help reduce symptoms of colic.
Probiotics -- Some research suggests that these "friendly bacteria" may help reduce symptoms of colic.
The Homeopathic Drugs for Colic:
- Colocynthis:
- Chamomilla:
- Aethusa:
- Lycopodium:
- Magnesium Phos:
- Nux Vomica:
- Senna:
Bibliography:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_colic
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0815/p735.html
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/infantile-colic
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/927760-overview
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/what-is-colic
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colic/basics/definition/con-20019091
http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/bha-charity/how-we-can-help/articles/infantile-colic/
http://www.homeopathy-healing.com/homeopathy-natural-relief-colic/
http://treatment.hpathy.com/homeo-medicine/homeopathy-colic-pain-abdomen/
http://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/homeopathic-treatment-of-infant-colic/
http://www.thehomeopathiccoach.com/baby-colic/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_colic
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0815/p735.html
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/infantile-colic
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/927760-overview
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/what-is-colic
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colic/basics/definition/con-20019091
http://www.britishhomeopathic.org/bha-charity/how-we-can-help/articles/infantile-colic/
http://www.homeopathy-healing.com/homeopathy-natural-relief-colic/
http://treatment.hpathy.com/homeo-medicine/homeopathy-colic-pain-abdomen/
http://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/homeopathic-treatment-of-infant-colic/
http://www.thehomeopathiccoach.com/baby-colic/