Symptoms of infantile colic

Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on November 28, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
53sec home-news-image

The difference between infant lactose intolerance and colic

Baby lactose intolerance is due to a lack of lactase, causing a range of symptoms, which we diagnose as lactose intolerance. These symptoms may include diarrhea and bloating, among which colic can also occur. Colic is just one of the symptoms. In many cases, such as infant lactose intolerance, severe diarrhea, and bloating, colic may occur. Colic symptoms can also arise when a child’s abdomen is exposed to cold, or other causes of intestinal diseases, such as viral or bacterial infections resulting in enteritis, may also present colic symptoms in children. Moreover, in common surgical diseases such as appendicitis, colic might also occur. Therefore, colic is merely one of the symptoms, and infant lactose intolerance is a general term for a disease.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
48sec home-news-image

Can a pacifier be used for intestinal colic?

First, we need to understand the causes of colic. It commonly occurs in infants when breastfeeding or formula feeding, due to ingesting large amounts of air. The air bubbles move within the intestines and cause abdominal pain. Furthermore, overfeeding can lead to excessive stomach expansion, which can also cause discomfort. Therefore, when feeding, it is important to ensure that the child does not inhale a large amount of air. Additionally, using a pacifier can lead to the intake of more air, thereby exacerbating colic. Thus, prevention is more important than treatment. Mothers should be careful not to let the baby inhale air while breastfeeding, as this is the most common cause of the condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
1min home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Li
Pediatrics
42sec home-news-image

Baby colic usually occurs at night or during the day?

Baby colic usually occurs in the evening or around dusk. Symptoms of colic almost always appear during a specific time period, although some babies also experience crying episodes during the day or at night. Colic mostly affects babies under three months old and is a common occurrence during the growth process of a baby. When a baby experiences a colic episode, parents should hold the baby upright with the baby's head resting on their shoulder, gently patting the baby's back. This can help to expel excess gas in the stomach. Additionally, gently massaging the baby's abdomen or placing a warm water bottle on it can help relieve intestinal spasms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
44sec home-news-image

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.