Children - Infant colic Flashcards
1
Q
Infant colic
A
- Excessive, frequent crying ina baby who appears to be otherwise healthy.
- Common (affects up to one in five babies).
2
Q
When does infant colic usually start?
A
- Usually starts when the baby is 2-4 weeks old
- Normally stops by 4 months, or 6 months latest
3
Q
Symptoms
A
- Intense periods of crying – sometimes lasting up to several hours
- Cryingin the late afternoon or eveningthat lasts several hours
- baby’s face being red and flushed when they cry
- baby clenching their fists,drawing their knees up to their tummy, or arching their back while crying
4
Q
Red flag symptoms
A
- A weak, high-pitched, or continuous cry for several hours
- Breathing problems, such as breathing quickly or grunting while breathing
- Has a fit (seizure) whilst crying
- Vomiting green fluid
- Isn’t feeding
- Failure of treatment
5
Q
Causes of infant colic
A
Exact cause unknown, some theories are:
Problems with digestion
Intolerance to lactose
Trapped wind
6
Q
What can increase the risk of your baby developing colic?
A
- Smoking during pregnancy and also taking NRT during your pregnancy
- Passive smoking
- More common in babies who are born prematurely.
7
Q
Differential diagnosis for infant colic
A
- Lactose intolerance
- Cow’s milk allergy
- Reflux
- Twist in bowel
- Severe nappy rash
8
Q
Treatment of colic
A
Infacol
9
Q
Infacol
A
- Can be used from birth onwards
- Orange flavour
- Sugar, alcohol and colourant free
- Dropper
- Each bottle contains enough liquid for up to 100 doses
10
Q
Non-pharmacological treatment of colic
A
- Sit baby upright when feeding
- Check the size of the hole in the teat for bottle-fed babies
- Hold bottle so that the teat is full of milk, avoid sucking a lot of air
- Burp the baby during and after feed
- Baby massage - this is not proven, based on individual
