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[Infant crying diary: a useful aid in distinguishing between normal and excessive crying behavior]
1Máxima Medisch Centrum, locatie Veldhoven, Postbus 7777, 5500 MB Veldhoven. w.tjonaten@mmc.nl
Insights
A crying diary helps differentiate infantile colic from normal infant crying and identify underlying organic diseases. This tool aids in accurate diagnosis and parental reassurance, leading to reduced infant crying.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Excessive infant crying is a common parental concern.
- Differentiating infantile colic from other causes requires careful assessment.
- Early identification of organic diseases is crucial for infant health.
Observation:
- A crying diary was used to monitor three infants with parental concerns of excessive crying.
- The diary accurately identified one case of infantile colic.
- It also revealed normal crying patterns in a second infant and prompted further investigation for a third.
Findings:
- The crying diary is an effective tool for assessing infant crying patterns.
- It helped diagnose infantile colic in one infant.
- It identified a case of Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in another infant, previously undetected.
- Normal crying behavior was confirmed in the third infant.
Implications:
- Crying diaries can aid pediatricians in diagnosing the cause of excessive infant crying.
- Early detection of organic diseases through symptom charting is possible.
- Parental reassurance and education on normal infant behavior are key management strategies.
- Most cases of excessive crying resolve spontaneously by three months of age.
Abstract:
Three infant girls aged 9, 10 and 8 weeks, who cried excessively according to their parents, were referred by the general practitioner to the paediatrician. Using a crying diary it was possible to ascertain that one infant fulfilled the criteria of infantile colic. The diary showed that a second infant was not crying excessively and her mother could be reassured that her baby's behaviour was normal. The third infant proved to be suffering from an organic disease (Alpha-I antitrypsin deficiency), which had not been obvious at clinical assessment. The crying diary provided clues that warranted further investigation. The parents of all 3 infants were reassured and the crying lessened over a period of several weeks. When parents complain that their child cries excessively, it is useful to chart the amount of crying time in a diary. Registration for one week is sufficient. If the child does not suffer from an organic disease, the mainstay of treatment is to explain normal crying behaviour and that it often helps if the infant is not offered too many stimuli. Parents can be reassured that spontaneous resolution will generally occur at the age of three months.
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