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Colic is defined as recurrent, prolonged, unexplained crying episodes in an otherwise well-appearing infant. It is a diagnosis of exclusion. Colic usually begins within the first three weeks of life, and it affects 10-30% of infants. The problem usually resolves at 3-4 months of age. The peak period of crying is usually the late afternoon or the evening, and it is characterized by a loud, high-pitched and
Clinical Evaluation
History and physical infantile colic, colic, colicky, babies, kolic, calick examination should exclude acute causes of infant crying, such as infection, trauma or gastrointestinal dysfunction.
The infant's diet should be evaluated, and overfeeding or underfeeding should be excluded. The stooling, urination and sleeping pattern should be evaluated, and the infant's social situation, including the physical and emotional well-being of
The infant's percentile weight, length and head circumference should be measured. Infants with colic should continue to grow and thrive.
Treatment of Colic
Breast-feeding should be continued because weaning to formula can result in worsening of colic. Symptoms of colic may sometimes improve when cow's milk is removed from the mother's diet.
Formula Feeding
Cow's milk protein consists of casein and whey. Whey may prolong crying in a small number of colicky infants, and symptoms of colic may decrease when "elemental" formulas (eg, Nutramigen, Pregestimil), which contain hydrolyzed protein, are given.
Allergy to cow's milk protein is rare and occurs in only 1% of bottle-fed infants who present with prolonged crying, persistent diarrhea, and/or positive fecal occult blood. Changing to a infantile colic, colicky, kolic, colik