The effectiveness of interventions for infant colic.

Background There is no known cause of colic and it has been suggested by some that colic does not exist. Whether this is true or not, many parents, caregivers and health professionals are faced with caring for an unhappy infant displaying symptoms associated with colic. Infantile colic usually affects infants in the first few weeks of life and resolves itself before six months of age. The prevalence of colic has been estimated as high as 40% of male and female infants. In the United Kingdom, up to one in six families consult their doctor or community nurse about symptoms of colic in their child. Although transient, colic creates considerable distress in infants and caregivers. Inconsolable, unexplained, and incessant crying in a seemingly healthy infant gives rise to tired, frustrated and concerned parents seeking a way to comfort their child. In many cases interventions for colic have little effect and it is simply a matter of waiting for the infant to 'grow out' of the colicky symptoms. Although the cause of colic is not known, food allergies, gastrointestinal problems, environmental and behavioral factors have all been suggested as possible causes. The argument that colic does not exist suggests that it is normal for infants to have increasingly longer bouts of crying from birth to about six weeks, after which the crying decreases. Others have suggested that many of the infants thought to have colic are in fact hungry. Definitions and symptoms of colic