What Colic in babies?

Symptoms

Babies have been known to fuss and cry, especially during the first three months of life. The range for what's considered typical crying is difficult to pin down. In general, colic is defined as crying for three or more hours a day, three or more days a week, for three or more weeks.

Features of colic may include the following:

Intense crying that may seem more like screaming or an expression of pain
Crying for no apparent reason, unlike crying to express hunger or the need for a diaper change
Extreme fussiness even after crying has diminished
Predictable timing, with episodes often occurring in the evening
Facial discoloring, such as skin flushing or blushing
Body tension, such as pulled up or stiffened legs, stiffened arms, clenched fists, arched back, or tense abdomen

Sometimes there is relief in symptoms after the infant passes gas or has a bowel movement. Gas is likely the result of swallowed air during prolonged crying.

When to see a doctor

Excessive, inconsolable crying may be colic or an indication of an illness or condition that causes pain or discomfort. Schedule an appointment with your child's health care provider for a thorough exam if your infant experiences excessive crying or other signs or symptoms of colic.

Causes

The cause of colic is unknown. It may result from numerous contributing factors. While a number of causes have been explored, it's difficult for researchers to account for all the important features, such as why it usually begins late in the first month of life, how it varies among infants, why it happens at certain times of day and why it resolves on its own in time.

Possible contributing factors that have been explored include:

Digestive system that isn't fully developed
Imbalance of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract
Food allergies or intolerances
Overfeeding, underfeeding or infrequent burping
Early form of childhood migraine
Family stress or anxiety

Risk factors

Risk factors for colic are not well-understood. Research has not shown differences in risk when the following factors were considered:

The child(male or female)
Preterm and full-term pregnancies
Formula-fed and breast-fed babies

Infants born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy or after delivery have an increased risk of developing colic.

What are the complications of colic?

Colic may become a concern because:

It is frustrating and stressful for parents
Both parents and baby lose sleep
A colicky infant may be overfed in an effort to stop the crying. This might make the colic worse.

Living with colicky baby

Having a colicky baby can be very stressful for parents. It can make you feel tired, guilty, and even depressed. Your baby's healthcare provider can suggest some things to do that may help to calm your baby. It’s important to know that colic is a common condition in young babies. It will go away on its own, often by age 3 months. In most cases it is gone by age 6 months.

If possible, have someone else watch your baby when you become stressed. If no one else is available, make sure your baby is safe and go into another room. Distract yourself from your baby's cries. Crying will not hurt your baby. Some communities have free or low-cost care called respite nurseries. You can leave your baby there for short periods of time.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

Before assuming your child has colic, look for other signs of illness. These may include:

Not sucking or drinking a bottle well
Drinking less milk than usual
Vomiting
Having loose stool (diarrhea)
Becoming more irritable when held or touched
Having a strange-sounding cry
Having a change in breathing rate or using extra effort to breathe
Being more sleepy or sluggish than normal
Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your child's healthcare provider

Call your child's healthcare provider if you see any of these symptoms. Also call if your baby is crying too much. Your child's provider will give your baby an exam. This is to make sure that there are no other health problems causing your baby’s symptoms.