Colic infant refers to the condition characterized by repetitive and intense crying or fussiness of a healthy infant. Infantile colic can be quite frustrating for parents, as there are no apparent factors to trigger these behaviors and attacks usually occur in the evening.
What is a Colic Baby?
Crying is the earliest and most powerful communication method, especially in newborn babies. While in these early stages of growth and development, babies are not yet capable of meeting their own needs. With crying, they interact with the people responsible for their care, and thus they use the instinct to increase their life chances by ensuring their needs are met.
The frequency and pattern of crying may vary periodically. Repetitive, unstoppable and excessive crying in healthy and adequately fed infants is defined as colic. Although infantile colic is considered a benign condition, it can be quite distressing for babies, parents or caregivers.
Colic disease, which is estimated to affect approximately 5-40% of children worldwide, typically tends to appear in the second or third week of life. The age group in which the attacks peak is approximately 6 weeks, and it regresses in 60% of children before 12 weeks. During colic, which is characterized by symptoms such as inconsolable crying, restlessness and screaming, babies' faces turn red, while their legs are in a very tense condition on the tummy.
The colic criteria, first put forward in 1954, were defined as "Wessel's rule of 3". Symptoms that last longer than 3 hours a day, appear on 3 or more days of the week, and begin when the child is approximately 3 weeks old, constitute the rules accepted as diagnostic criteria for colic.
What are the Symptoms of Colic Baby?
Symptoms that occur in babies with colic tend to occur at the same time of the day. Colic baby symptoms, which are intense in the evenings, unlike in the daytime and noon, suddenly appear. they come out. Babies may smile one moment and cry the next. Apart from crying, babies who make kicking movements by lifting their legs up may be doing these movements to relieve gas pains. During crying, symptoms such as swelling or hardening may also occur in babies' bellies.
Crying and fussing are considered normal for infants, especially in the first 3 months of life. The main symptom of colic is that these cries occur in attacks and intensely within the rule of three. Apart from this symptom, there are many signs and symptoms that can be an answer to the question of how to understand a colic baby:
- Continuation of irritability after crying has stopped
- Screaming as if in pain
- Predicting attacks occurring in a reasonable time, especially in the evening
- Skin color changes, such as flushing of the face or pallor around the mouth
- Keeping the arms or legs in a stretched position
Why Do Babies Have Colic?
In general, the underlying cause of colic development may not be clearly elucidated. There are various theories about the question of "what causes colic", which may be triggered by many different factors. It is generally thought that gas and digestive problems can trigger the development of colic. Since the intestines of small babies are still in the developmental period, there may be a sensitivity to breast milk or formula. Although it is thought that the symptoms of milk allergies and lactose intolerance may progress with similar complaints as colic, no evidence-based theory has yet been established as the cause of colic. There are many factors that may trigger the development of colic in infants:
- Hunger
- Reflux disease in which stomach acid moves towards the esophagus
- Gas
- Presence of cow's milk proteins in breast milk
- Prepared foods
- Result of burping reflex not fully developed
- Overfeeding
- Power at birth (premature)
- Tobacco use during pregnancy
- Problems related to the development of the nervous system
How is Colic Diagnosed in Babies?
Diagnosis of colic in infants can generally be made by symptoms and clinical observation. Physicians also examine the baby comprehensively and investigate possible factors that may trigger the baby's distress with physical examination methods. Measurement of the baby's weight, height and head circumference, listening to heart and lung sounds, evaluation of the extremities and genital area, reflex examinations and examination of various symptoms that may occur in the body of rash, inflammation or infection and allergy constitute the basic principles that physicians evaluate within the scope of physical examination.
Laboratory examinations, imaging methods such as x-ray and other advanced examinations are generally not necessary for the diagnosis of colic in infants. However, if life-threatening infections such as sepsis are suspected, blood and urine cultures, imaging methods or other advanced tests can also be used.
Detection of blood in stool examinations with abdominal bloating supports the diagnosis of cow's milk allergy. If extreme fatigue is among the colic symptoms in infants, it may be necessary to examine the brain structures with computed tomography in addition to the infection parameters. These advanced examinations are especially used in babies whose crying attacks start after the first 3 months of life and continue from the 4th month. is planned for. The first stage of the treatment should be raising the awareness of the parents who are in a hectic and stressful situation and that this situation will only last for a while. Parents should be educated about shaken baby syndrome, which is a problem that can lead to severe brain damage or even death, and should be told that they should never resort to comforting the baby in this way.
When deemed necessary by physicians, it may be beneficial to remove the factors that may trigger the development of colic in the baby by passing into breast milk from the mother's diet and to switch to a hypoallergic diet plan. located between the llamas.
When Does Colic in Babies Go?
Although intense crying episodes seem to last forever, in response to the question when the baby will recover from colic, "on average, the baby is 3-4 months old. tends to end” can be answered. During this period, it is recommended to follow the symptoms occurring in the baby and to seek support from specialist physicians for further research in the presence of changes or if crying attacks continue after this period.
What Is Good for Colic Babies?
Various applications that can be done within the knowledge and recommendation of physicians for colic babies can be beneficial:
- Laying on their tummy is an application that can be effective in colic babies. This position change is an application that can contribute to the relief of colic symptoms and the development of strong neck and shoulder muscles in some babies. It should not be forgotten that this application should be done while the baby is awake and under careful observation.
- Some babies with colic may respond positively to being picked up. It can provide relief in colic symptoms that occur in the evening, especially in babies who are held in the lap during the daytime.
It is very important for you to exchange ideas with your physicians before and after the application about which of these applications work and which do not. In the presence of colic symptoms and other complaints, it is recommended to consult specialist pediatricians and receive the most appropriate colic treatment. You can ask the questions you are curious about to the expert team of Grup Florence Nightingale Hospitals and ask for suggestions regarding your question. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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