Colic in infants; general considerations.

gree from general fussiness to paroxysms of agonized crying. The symptoms usually start after feeding and are worse late in the day. Besides the typical unhappiness, as exemplified by clenching the fists and flexing the legs, the infant often makes sucking movements and appears to be searching for food. Usually these infants have a great deal of gas, manifested by cxcessive belching, flatus, and rumbling. The passage of gas is occasionally followed by temporary relief, supporting the theory that (liStefl(lcd loops of intestine from collected air causes colic. It is most common in the first born, usually starting at 2 to 4 weeks of age, an(l lasting through the third on fourth month. It is difficult to say what percentage of infants have colic since a certain amount of fussiness is natural, and crying that may be considered normal in one household, might be regar(led as intolerable in another. Certainly colic is not “the almost infallible occurrence” that Bnennernan once described, although %Vessel found that only 50 of 98 infants lie studied were considered contented babies. From my own experience in both private practice and clinic work, I have gained the impression that the mcideuce of colic is higher in the private group. ETIOLOGY