Infantile colic

Peter Lucassen1

  • 1Department of general practice, Radbound University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Insights

Infantile colic affects many families, prompting healthcare consultations. This systematic review evaluates various treatments for infant colic, assessing their effectiveness and safety based on current evidence.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

  • Infantile colic is a common condition affecting approximately 17% of families with infants.
  • Prevalence varies significantly based on study design and data collection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and evaluate the effects of various treatments for infantile colic.
  • To answer the clinical question regarding the efficacy and safety of infantile colic interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a systematic review of medical literature up to January 2007.
  • Searched major databases including Medline, Embase, and The Cochrane Library.
  • Included harms alerts from regulatory agencies like the FDA and MHRA.

Main Results:

  • Identified 23 relevant systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and observational studies.
  • Performed a GRADE evaluation to assess the quality of evidence for different interventions.
  • Compiled information on the effectiveness and safety of numerous treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Presents findings on interventions such as casein hydrolysate milk, infant massage, and simethicone.
  • Covers a range of treatments including cranial osteopathy, gripe water, and dietary modifications.
  • Provides a comprehensive overview of evidence for infantile colic treatments.
Abstract

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