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Associations of Infant Colic and Excessive Crying With Atopic Outcomes in Childhood and Adolescence
Karen M Switkowski1, Emily Oken2, Elisabeth M Simonin3
1Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA.
Insights
Infant colic, marked by unsoothable crying, is linked to increased risks of atopic conditions like eczema and asthma throughout childhood. Excessive crying without colic did not show these increased risks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Allergy and Immunology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Infant colic is a common condition characterized by prolonged, inconsolable crying and parental distress.
- The relationship between infant colic and later atopic or respiratory conditions is not fully understood.
- Differentiating colic from excessive crying without colic is crucial for understanding potential health implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between infant colic and excessive crying with the risk of atopic and respiratory conditions.
- To determine if these risks persist throughout childhood and adolescence.
- To compare outcomes between infants with colic, excessive crying, and neither condition.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 1249 children (Project Viva).
- Assessed history of infant colic or excessive crying without colic.
- Examined risks of eczema, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and respiratory infections from toddlerhood to mid-adolescence using multinomial logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Children with colic showed significantly higher risks of eczema, allergic rhinitis, and asthma in mid-childhood.
- Colic was associated with increased respiratory infection risk in toddlerhood and mid-adolescence.
- No increased risk of atopic or respiratory conditions was observed in children with excessive crying but no colic.
Conclusions:
- Infant colic, particularly when associated with abdominal distress, may serve as an early indicator of atopic susceptibility.
- These findings highlight the potential long-term health implications of infant colic.
- Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms linking colic to atopic conditions.
Objective:
To assess the extent to which risks of atopic and respiratory conditions throughout childhood and adolescence differ by history of (1) infant colic, characterized by apparent abdominal discomfort and unsoothable crying, (2) excessive crying without colic, or (3) neither condition.
Study Design:
Among 1249 children participating in the prospective, unselected Project Viva cohort, we examined associations of history of infant colic or excessive crying without colic with risks of eczema, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and respiratory infections, measured in toddlerhood, early childhood, mid-childhood, early adolescence, and mid-adolescence using multinomial logistic regression models.
Results:
The study sample was 50% female and 71% non-Hispanic White; 26% had colic and 9% excessive crying. Children with colic (vs no colic or excessive crying) had higher risk of eczema (relative risk ratio [RRR], 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.8), allergic rhinitis (RRR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4), and asthma (RRR, 1.6; 95% CI,1.1-2.4) in mid-childhood, and a higher risk of respiratory infections in toddlerhood (RRR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2) and mid-adolescence (RRR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2, 3.7). The risk of 2-3 concurrent atopic conditions (eczema, allergic rhinitis, and/or asthma) was nearly twice that among the colic group (vs unaffected) at all life stages. The group with excessive crying without colic did not have increased risk of atopic and respiratory outcomes.
Conclusions:
Colic characterized by unsoothable crying and parent perceptions of abdominal distress may be an early marker of atopic susceptibility.
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