When otherwise healthy infant crying tensely for an excessive duration. They are often referred to as having colic.
Infantile Colic is usually benign and self limiting and disappearing spontaneously by the age of 4 to 5 Month . Crying is the infants way of Communication. It is not necessarily a sign of pain or illness.
paroxysmal crying For more than 3 hours a day For more than 3 days per week for more than 3 weeks . Paroxysms are accompanied with Facial gremancing ,drawing up of legs , arching of back and sometimes passing flatus.
It affects at around 10% to 40% of infant.
Exact etiology of this clinical condition is not known yet. Most current and accepted hypothesis is effect of several stress hormones of mother transferred to the baby via breast milk . Other proposed etiologies are cow milk allergy, lactose intolerance, Constipation, Gastroesophageal reflux. Some organic conditions mimic infantile colic like infections ,Corneal abrasion , glaucoma ,Long bone fracture, Supraventricular Tachycardia, intussusception. Common infection like Otitis media hidden boils May mimic this condition.
