A comprehensive definition of infant colic: parents' and nurses' perspectives
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 12, 2026
Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
Published on: December 20, 2011
Sølvi Helseth1, Susanne Begnum
1Faculty of Nursing, Oslo University College, Bjerregaardsgt 21, N-0172 Oslo, Norway. solvi.helseth@su.hio.no
Insights
Colic, defined as prolonged infant crying, lacks a clear cause or treatment. This study proposes a new framework to help nurses better assess and categorize infant crying, aiding in diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infant Health
- Clinical Nursing
Background:
- Colic is a common issue in infancy characterized by excessive crying.
- Current definitions of colic are inconsistent, and its etiology and effective treatments remain unclear.
- Infant crying presents a significant challenge for parents and healthcare professionals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a clinically applicable framework for describing and categorizing infant colic.
- To provide a diagnostic tool for nurses managing crying infants.
- To facilitate more specific assessment and categorization of infant crying.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory study design.
- Qualitative in-depth interviews with nurses and parents of crying infants.
- Data collection focused on crying patterns and duration.
Main Results:
- Identified specific criteria for infant crying: >3 hours/day, >3 days/week, >3 weeks.
- Emerged three distinct crying categories: intense crying, non-specific fussing/crying, and feeding-related crying.
- Proposed an overall definition of colic incorporating these categories.
Conclusions:
- The proposed definition offers a structured approach for diagnosing infant colic.
- This framework can serve as a diagnostic tool for nurses, guiding data collection and assessment.
- Improved categorization of infant crying can enhance clinical management strategies.
Abstract:
Colic is a term that is often used for crying in infancy. There is no unified definition, the aetiology is disputed and there is no effective method of treatment. Therefore, the crying infant constitutes a problem for parents and for nurses in child health clinics. The purpose of the study was to develop a clinically acceptable framework for describing colic. The design is exploratory, and data were collected through qualitative in-depth interviews with nurses and parents of crying babies. The infants identified by parents and nurses had periods of crying or fussing for more than 3 hours a day, the crying occurring on more than 3 days in any 1 week and lasting for more than 3 weeks. Three categories of crying emerged (intense crying, non-specific fussing and crying, feeding-related crying) that presumably differ in aetiology. An overall definition of colic is proposed that incorporates these categories. The proposed definition may function as a diagnostic tool for nurses when they encounter problems of infant crying. The definition provides nurses with clinical criteria that can guide data collection. More specific assessment and categorization of infant crying will be helpful for nurses in addressing problems of colic.
More Related Videos
07:11Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
09:36Effect of Hyaluronic Acid 35 kDa on an In Vitro Model of Preterm Small Intestinal Injury and Healing Using Enteroid-Derived Monolayers
Published on: July 28, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:22Nursing Diagnosis
The nursing diagnosis focuses on evidence-based...
01:27Nursing Clinical Information System
A Nursing Clinical Information System (NCIS) is a specialized type of healthcare information system tailored to meet the unique needs of nursing practice. It incorporates the principles of nursing informatics to streamline information management and improve the quality of care delivery.
Critical attributes of NCIS include:
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome III: Medical and Nursing Management
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...