Colic

Question 1

What is colic linked to and what to expect

Answer 1

• Colic has almost no link to anything
  
  • Receive a diagnosis from exclusion

Question 2

What is true colic

Answer 2

**Crying occurs 3 hrs per day, 3 days per week and for > 3 weeks
- Baby is inconsolable
- Usually in evening (seems like it)
- 10-40% of babies
- Parents claim crying is different
- Disappears suddenly in few months

Question 3

Colic-y vs true colic

Answer 3

• 80% of parents of parents report it and only 16% has true colic
  
  • The key for true colic is the baby is fine between episodes, feeds well, gains weight

Question 4

When does colic vs teething happen

Answer 4

• Colic 3-4th month
  
  • Teething about 4th month

Question 5

Could the child be lactose intolerant rather then colic?

Answer 5

• Congenital lactose intolerance is uncommon (if they are then it means its no longer colic)
  
  • Colic is just crying and if there is other symptoms it is not true colic

Question 6

Treatment of colic
*Non drug (to try one step at a time if can to see what works)

Answer 6

a) Repositioning child
b) Stimulation (music)
c) DE stimulation
d) Changing infant formulas
e) Changing infant formula
f) People try anti colic bottles but if it is gas then it is not colic

Question 7

Drug therapy for colic

Answer 7

• Simethicone
• Dicyclomine (bentylol)
• Gripe water
• Probiotics
• Homeopathic

Question 8

Simethicone

Answer 8

• OTC
  
  • very safe agent but don’t know its effectiveness
  • De-forming agent and claims to help gi discomfort via trapped gas
  • Give after each feeding and no side effects

Question 9

Dicyclomine (bentylol)

Answer 9

• Anti-spasmodic (antiChE)
  
  • Better then placebo
  • Not recommended for babys under 6m (makes sense but don’t dispense unless prescribed)
  • Side effects: drowsiness, constipation

Question 10

Gripe water

Answer 10

• The newer gripe water left all the oils in but took the sodium bicarbonate out
  
  • Has both alcohol and alcohol free versions
  • Lower patient expectations but worth a try but most likely wont do much

Question 11

Probiotics (with colic)

Answer 11

• Breast milk will have its own probiotics
  
  • Shows promise but don’t know which ones to use
  • Lactobacillus reuteri: has studies that shown it helped so worth a try and safe
  • Safe to introduce new bacteria to baby as they get so much just by living