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Infant Colic Beyond 5 Months: A Multicenter Study From Colombia
Carlos Velasco-Benitez1, Daniela Velasco1, Malia Andujar2
1Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
Insights
Infant colic is common in early infancy but rare after 5 months, aligning with Rome IV criteria for most babies. A small group may experience persistent symptoms beyond this age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Infant Health
Background:
- Infant colic is a prevalent and distressing condition in early infancy.
- The Rome IV criteria define colic up to 5 months, but symptoms may persist longer.
- Emerging evidence suggests the need to evaluate colic prevalence beyond the established age threshold.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of infant colic beyond 5 months of age.
- To evaluate if the Rome IV diagnostic age cutoff accurately reflects the clinical course of infant colic.
- To assess the persistence of colic symptoms in infants aged 1-12 months.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in Colombia.
- Caregivers of 1236 infants aged 1-12 months were recruited from outpatient clinics.
- Infant colic was diagnosed using the Spanish version of the Rome IV Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms (QPGS-IV).
Main Results:
- Overall, 1.7% of infants met Rome IV criteria for colic.
- Prevalence was 3.0% in infants aged 1-4 months versus 0.5% in those aged 5-12 months (p < 0.001).
- Fourteen percent of colic cases occurred beyond 5 months, with none reported after 8 months.
Conclusions:
- Infant colic is common in early infancy but rare beyond 5 months, supporting the Rome IV criteria's typical clinical course.
- A small subgroup of infants experiences persistent colic symptoms beyond 5 months.
- The current Rome IV age boundary may not encompass the full spectrum of infant colic presentation.
Background:
Infant colic is a frequent and distressing disorder of early infancy. The Rome IV criteria define colic as occurring from birth until 5 months of age, although emerging evidence suggests that symptoms may persist beyond this threshold. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of infant colic beyond 5 months and evaluate whether the Rome IV diagnostic age cutoff accurately reflects the clinical course of the disorder.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional, multicenter study across four regions of Colombia during the. Caregivers of infants aged 1-12 months were recruited from general pediatrics and pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinics. Infant colic was diagnosed using the validated Spanish version of the Rome IV Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms (QPGS-IV). Demographic data were analyzed descriptively, and comparisons between age groups (1-4 months vs. 5-12 months) were performed using Fisher's exact test.
Key Results:
A total of 1236 infants were included. Twenty-one (1.7%) met symptomatic Rome IV criteria for infant colic. Prevalence was 3.0% (18/600) at 1-4 months and 0.5% (3/636) at 5-12 months (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found by sex (p = 0.39) or prematurity (p = 0.26). Fourteen percent of all colic cases occurred beyond 5 months, and none beyond 8 months of age.
Conclusions And Inferences:
Infant colic was common during early infancy but rare beyond 5 months, confirming that the Rome IV cutoff reflects the typical clinical course for most infants. However, a small subgroup with persistent symptoms beyond 5 months suggests that the current time boundary may not encompass the full spectrum of infant colic.
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