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Infantile colic
How long does infant colic last?
The duration of colic in each baby varies. It is brief, lasting only a few seconds in mild cases, and can extend to several minutes or even longer in severe instances. Symptoms of colic include paroxysmal crying, decreased appetite, and restless sleep at night. Colic generally occurs in babies around six months old. At this stage, a baby's gastrointestinal function is not yet fully developed, and the introduction of solid foods can make digestion difficult, leading to gas and bloating. If a baby experiences intestinal gas, this can lead to colic. To help relieve this, you can perform gas relief exercises with your baby, such as clockwise abdominal massage, which helps release the gas inside the intestines and alleviate colic. Additionally, administering probiotics to the baby can help regulate intestinal flora. If the gas is prominent, simethicone can be orally administered to absorb excess gas in the intestines and relieve pain. (Use of medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)
Can infantile colic cause constipation?
Infantile colic can cause constipation. It is first important to understand that colic is caused by abnormal intestinal movements and stimulation of the intestinal mucosa, leading to pain symptoms. This is often due to increased intestinal gas or constipation, which disrupt normal intestinal movements and thus also cause symptoms of constipation. In such cases, one can first try abdominal massage to promote intestinal movements and help the expulsion of gas and stool, thereby alleviating symptoms. Additionally, taking probiotics orally can regulate gastrointestinal function and aid in digestion and absorption. Attention should also be paid to dietary adjustments, preferably eating light and easily digestible food to reduce the production of intestinal gas and alleviate its symptoms. If symptoms persist for a long time without significant relief, it is still necessary to have a specialist doctor examine and prescribe medication accordingly.
Symptoms timing of infantile colic
The symptoms of infantile colic are sudden bouts of crying, during which the child's face turns very red, their hands clenched into fists, and their stomach distended. The child may also be difficult to console. To alleviate these symptoms, it is recommended to apply warm compresses to the child's abdomen and massage the abdomen to relieve intestinal gas and colic. Colic is generally more common at night and usually occurs in babies between one and three months old. To prevent colic, it is important to burp the child for ten minutes after each feeding and to massage the child’s abdomen in a clockwise direction between feedings. When colic occurs, applying a warm compress to the abdomen and massaging in a clockwise direction can help, as well as holding the child in an "airplane" hold.
Do infantile colic attacks occur daily?
Intestinal colic is a common phenomenon, but generally does not occur every day. Babies with intestinal colic may exhibit symptoms such as paroxysmal crying, decreased appetite, and restless sleep at night. Intestinal colic typically occurs around 6 months of age, when the baby's gastrointestinal function is not yet fully developed. At this age, the baby begins to eat solid foods, and some of these foods are hard to digest, leading to gassiness. When a baby experiences intestinal gas, it can lead to intestinal colic. You can perform gas-relief exercises for the baby or massage the abdomen clockwise, which helps expel the gas from the intestines. Additionally, you can administer probiotics orally to adjust the gut flora. If the intestinal gassiness is significant, some medications can be taken orally to absorb the excess gas in the intestines and relieve the colic. Another method to try is holding the baby in an "airplane" position to alleviate discomfort.
Will the baby still have intestinal colic if they fart a lot?
Children who fart frequently may also experience intestinal colic, which usually results from indigestion caused by various reasons. Some children may swallow a lot of air while feeding, which can also lead to colic. However, if a child farts a lot, it can indicate that the air in the abdomen has been expelled, and the likelihood of colic occurring under these circumstances is relatively small. But there are also some pathological factors that could lead to colic, so excessive farting does not necessarily mean that colic will not occur. It is suggested that when a child suffers from colic, parents can use heat application as a local treatment, which is very helpful in relieving the child's pain symptoms.
Infantile colic generally occurs at what time?
Infantile colic usually occurs in infants within the first three months of birth, and typically manifests at night. Some children may experience brief episodes of colic, but for others, the episodes can be relatively prolonged, possibly lasting several hours. When colic occurs, the infant may exhibit symptoms such as facial flushing, pale lips, abdominal distension, clenched fists, cold feet, and crying. Colic may subside after the infant passes gas or has a bowel movement. During a colic episode, parents should hold the child upright, allowing the child to lie on the adult's shoulder. The parent's hand should be hollow, gently patting the baby's back to help expel excess air from the stomach.
Symptoms of infantile colic
The symptoms of infant colic mainly occur at night as paroxysmal crying, commonly seen in babies from two weeks to three months old. A warm compress can be applied to the baby's belly centered around the navel, and clockwise abdominal massage can be performed for ten minutes, three times a day. If the baby is under six months old, the mother needs to pay attention to a light and easily digestible diet. If the baby is over six months old, their complementary foods should be given in small, frequent meals, and avoid overfeeding to prevent binge eating. It is important to focus on prevention usually, and after each feeding, make sure to pat the baby gently for about ten minutes and perform clockwise abdominal massages between feedings to prevent issues.
Is the baby's rumbling stomach intestinal colic?
A child's stomach making gurgling noises doesn't necessarily mean they have intestinal colic; it could be due to indigestion. The main symptom of intestinal colic is severe abdominal pain, which usually isn't accompanied by gurgling sounds. If a child does have intestinal colic, they may exhibit symptoms such as incessant crying and abdominal spasms, whereas gurgling sounds are typically caused by the incomplete development of the digestive tract in children, leading to gas formation as food moves through the intestines. If the child does not display symptoms like abdominal distension, diarrhea, or abdominal pain, treatment may not be necessary. However, if such symptoms are present, it could be due to conditions like enteritis or dysentery, and it is advisable for parents to take their child to a reputable hospital for an examination.
What should babies with colic not eat?
Infantile colic, and what not to eat, depends on the cause of the colic. First, it is necessary to understand that infant colic is due to the immature development of the gastrointestinal function in infants. If some foods are not fully digested and absorbed, it can lead to increased accumulation of gas in the gut, thereby stimulating the nerves of the intestinal mucosa and causing colic. For such infants, it is best to avoid spicy, stimulating, and indigestible foods in the diet, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, etc. These foods are not easily digested and tend to produce gas. Additionally, it is important to avoid overeating, which can overburden the stomach and intestines, leading to symptoms of indigestion. Therefore, for symptoms of colic, the main approach is to control the diet, eat smaller, more frequent meals, and avoid overeating, which can worsen the burden on the stomach and intestines and exacerbate the symptoms.
What are the symptoms of infantile colic?
Infantile colic is more common and mostly occurs in infants under three months of age. It is characterized by paroxysmal crying, with the infant crying loudly for several hours. During an attack, the face often turns flush, the area around the mouth is pale, and the abdomen is bloated and tense. This is usually accompanied by tightly clenched hands, and symptoms may slightly relieve after passing gas or having a bowel movement. There are many causes of colic, often related to the infant's own constitution, especially food allergies which can exacerbate symptoms. Additionally, respiratory infections, abdominal chilling, overeating, or accumulation of intestinal gas can also trigger symptoms of colic.