Infantile Colic

• What is infantile colic?

  Paroxysms of persistent and uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy infant

  Affects 15-20% of infants

  Self-limiting & benign condition
• When does infantile colic usually resolve?

  By 5 months
• When is infantile colic the most frequent?

  First 6 weeks of life
• What is infantile colic associated with?

  Significant caregiver anxiety & frustration
• What is the key feature of infantile colic?

  Inability to console
• What is the cry like in infantile colic?

  Louder

  Higher in frequency

  Described as 'screaming' rather than crying

  More piercing/grating in nature
• What is Wessell's criteria for infantile colic?

  Unexplained crying/fussiness

  Resolves by 3 months of age

  Lasts for more than 3 hrs per day

  Occurs more than 3 days per week

  Persists for more than 3 wks
• Other than the cry, what are the other features that may occur during episodes of colic?

  Facial flushing

  Tense abdomen

  Drawing legs up to abdomen

  Clenched fists

  Circumoral pallor

  Stiffening & tightening of arms

  Back arching

  Absence of red flag symptoms (fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdo distension, trauma signs, poor feeding, poor weight gain & growth, developmental delay)
• Infantile colic is a diagnosis of exclusion, and signs of more serious disease or organic causes of crying must be ruled out first.
• What is the management of infantile colic?

  Caregiver education & support

  Appropriate feeding techniques

  Dietary changes (if other techniques fail or CPMA is suspected)