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[Infantile colic--an assessment of possible risk factors]

C Søndergaard1, J Olsen, M Dirdal

  • 1Den Medicinske Forskningsenhed i Ringkjøbing Amt, Aarhus Universitet, Center for Epidemiologisk Grundforskning. cos@dadlnet.dk

Ugeskrift for Laeger
|November 29, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Infantile colic, characterized by excessive crying, has an unknown cause despite various investigated factors. Parental education and advice proved more effective than dietary changes for managing colic.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatal Health
  • Gastroenterology

Context:

  • Infantile colic affects 8-40% of infants in industrialized nations.
  • The exact cause of infantile colic remains elusive.
  • Previous research explored various hypotheses including allergies, feeding types, and infant development.

Purpose:

  • To review studies defining infantile colic quantitatively.
  • To identify risk factors and effective management strategies for infantile colic.

Summary:

  • This review analyzed studies with quantitative definitions of infantile colic.
  • Key findings indicate that parental education and advice are more effective than dietary interventions.
  • While cow's milk elimination and maternal diet changes showed some effect, no single cause or definitive risk factor was identified, suggesting a multifactorial etiology.

Impact:

  • Highlights the importance of parental support and education in managing infantile colic.
  • Suggests that current understanding of infantile colic etiology is incomplete.
  • Informs clinical practice regarding the most effective, non-invasive strategies for colic management.

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