How to determine if a baby has colic

Written by Wang Lin Zhong
Pediatrics
Updated on January 21, 2025
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Intestinal colic is a very common symptom in babies. It can be caused by both physiological and pathological reasons. Physiological reasons generally include improper feeding, a cold stomach, or excessive hunger. Pathological reasons typically involve acute gastroenteritis, indigestion, and so on. Intestinal colic usually occurs in the evening or at night and has a sudden onset. Mild cases may present with loss of appetite, incessant crying, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases can exhibit symptoms such as high fever, bloody stools, and even confusion. Therefore, when diagnosing intestinal colic, it is necessary to go to the hospital for relevant examinations to rule out surgical conditions. Intestinal colic is generally manageable and can be relieved with appropriate treatment. It is important to keep the baby's stomach warm, avoid overeating and binge eating, and maintain cleanliness and hygiene in their diet.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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How many months will it take for intestinal colic to get better?

Colic is one of the most common clinical complications in infants. The principle of its onset mainly lies in the incomplete development of intestinal function in infants within three or six months, which leads to the inability of gas to be expelled from the body normally, thus causing symptoms of localized abdominal pain due to the gas. Generally, as the child grows older and the gastrointestinal function repairs, the situation will gradually improve after three or five months. During this period, oral probiotics can be chosen to alleviate local symptoms, and parents can assist the child in performing clockwise abdominal massage to facilitate gas expulsion. Additionally, exercising by mimicking bicycle pedaling can also be helpful.

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Is pediatric tuina massage effective for intestinal colic?

When infants experience intestinal colic, it is generally due to excessive gas accumulation in the intestinal cavity, where the gas cannot be normally expelled from the body, leading to abdominal pain. Appropriate use of pediatric massage techniques can be employed to treat this condition, which can effectively alleviate the symptoms. Especially, clockwise massaging the abdomen of the affected child has a very clear clinical effect in promoting intestinal peristalsis and gas expulsion. In addition, assisting children with some lower limb exercises can also promote gastrointestinal motility and gas expulsion. If there is abnormal stool, combining oral probiotics to regulate and maintain the intestinal flora can be beneficial. If necessary, medications that promote gastrointestinal motility can also be taken orally to help with gas expulsion.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Can infant colic cause intestinal colic?

Infant constipation does not cause colic. The so-called constipation refers to the condition where babies aged 1 to 3 months do not defecate for several days or even more than ten days. However, these babies do not exhibit vomiting, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Once they do defecate, the stool is not dry and appears normal in shape. Constipation occurs because the baby's gastrointestinal tract is gradually developing, and their ability to digest and absorb is progressively increasing. Consequently, there is less food residue formed, which does not stimulate the bowel movement reaction. It is a normal physiological phenomenon and does not cause colic.

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Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
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How to deal with colic in a 40-day-old baby?

It is very common for babies to experience intestinal colic, especially because the gastrointestinal system of a 40-day-old baby is not yet fully developed. In such cases, you can perform a clockwise massage on the child's abdomen, centered around the navel, for ten minutes each time. You can also do some gas relief exercises for the child, which are beneficial in alleviating intestinal colic. Additionally, you can hold the child in an airplane hold, or use a warm towel to apply heat to the baby's abdomen to relieve intestinal spasms and colic. If the baby's intestinal colic remains particularly severe, it may be necessary to administer some medications that adjust the intestinal flora. Also, it is advisable to engage the child in more outdoor activities to prevent crying due to calcium deficiency.

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Written by Huang Kun Mei
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Symptoms timing of infantile colic

Infant colic is generally more common at night. Most children are prone to this condition at around one to two months or two to three months of age. Sometimes, they suddenly cry out loud while sleeping at night. In such cases, feeding the child often does not help. Some babies may exhibit severe bloating and a very red face, continuing to cry inconsolably. When colic occurs, parents can use warm compresses to relieve the child's discomfort. You can apply a warm towel to the child's abdomen, hold the baby in an "airplane" hold, or massage the child around the navel, clockwise for ten minutes at a time, to provide relief. If the child still experiences intestinal pain and cries excessively without passing gas, it is necessary to seek medical attention promptly.