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Infant colic or early symptom of autism spectrum disorder?

Özlem Bağ1, Sevay Alşen Güney2, Nagihan Cevher Binici2

  • 1Department of Social Pediatrics, Dr Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|March 25, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Infant colic (IC) rates are similar in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and controls. However, persistent crying in infants may signal early ASD, warranting thorough evaluation before diagnosing IC.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

  • Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are frequently observed in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Infant colic (IC), a common functional GI disorder in infants, has not been extensively studied in relation to ASD.
  • This study aimed to assess IC prevalence in ASD and explore potential links between ASD and IC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of infant colic (IC) in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • To investigate a possible association between a history of infant colic and the presence of ASD.
  • To differentiate between infant colic and persistent crying as potential early indicators in infants.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 100 children with ASD and 100 healthy controls was recruited.
  • Parents retrospectively completed questionnaires based on Rome IV diagnostic criteria for infant colic (IC).
  • Statistical analysis was performed to compare IC rates and identify risk factors, with sample size calculated for 80% power and 5% significance.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of infant colic (IC) was comparable between the ASD group (16%) and the control group (17%), with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05).
  • Persistent crying, defined as excessive crying with late onset and prolonged duration, was significantly more frequent in the ASD group (32%) compared to controls (9%) (P < 0.001).
  • The relative risk of persistent crying in infants with ASD was 4.40, and 78% of these infants were at risk of being misdiagnosed with IC.

Conclusions:

  • The study found no increased rate of infant colic (IC) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Infants exhibiting excessive crying require careful evaluation to rule out other conditions before a diagnosis of IC.
  • Persistent crying in infants may serve as a potential early sign of ASD, highlighting the need for comprehensive developmental assessments.
Abstract

Keywords:
autism spectrum disordergastrointestinalinfant colic

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