Infantile Colic: New Insights into an Old Problem

Tu Mai; Nicole Y Fatheree; Wallace Gleason; Yuying Liu; Jon Marc Rhoads

doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2018.07.008

Infantile Colic: New Insights into an Old Problem

Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2018 Dec;47(4):829-844. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2018.07.008. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Authors

Tu Mai¹, Nicole Y Fatheree¹, Wallace Gleason¹, Yuying Liu¹, Jon Marc Rhoads²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.137, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
² Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.137, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: J.Marc.Rhoads@uth.tmc.edu.

Abstract

Infant colic is a characteristic group of behaviors seen in young infants. The most prominent feature is prolonged crying. Additional characteristics, including clenching of the fists and flexion of the hips, have led to the suggestion that these behaviors are related to abdominal discomfort. In this article, we show emerging evidence to support the concept that infant colic could represent gut inflammation and microbial dysbiosis that impacts brain function and even brain development.

Keywords: Barr diary; Crying; Infant; Microbiome; Neutropenia.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Colic / diagnosis
Colic / etiology*
Colic / therapy*
Crying
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn

Grants and funding

R34 AT006727/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States