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Infantile
colic is a curious and mysterious condition. It is estimated that
22.5% of all newborns suffer from colic at some time. The condition
is regarded as being self-limiting, spontaneously disappearing
at three months. However, studies have shown that many cases of
colic will persist until six or even twelve months, causing considerable
distress and frustration for both children and parents.
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Definition
Colic is defined with the "rule of three":
- crying more than three hours per day,
- for more than three days per week,
- and for more than three weeks in an infant that is well-fed and otherwise healthy.
Symptoms
The symptoms commonly described are:
- Inconsolable crying - typically high pitched and occurring frequently in the afternoon or evening
- Redness of the face
- Drawing up of knees
- Flatus
Causes
The symptoms commonly described are:
- Gastro-intestinal eg constipation, cow's milk intolerance, lactose intolerance, reflux, rectal fissure
- Infection eg glue ear, urinary tract infection, viral illness, meningitis
- Trauma
- Neuro-developmental disorders (very rare)
Feeding
The incidence of colic is about the same for breast-fed or bottle-fed babies. One study found possible therapeutic benefit from eliminating milk products, eggs, wheat and nuts from the diet of breastfeeding mothers. Parents of colicky bottle-fed infants often ask which formula to feed their child. Some studies have found a possible link between colic and cow's milk intolerance and another found an improvement in symptoms with soya-based formulas.
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What can Chiropractic do?
For years, Chiropractors have cared for children with colic symptoms and with apparently good results. A recent study compared the short-term effects of spinal manipulation with drug intervention. The Danish National Health Service recruited fifty infants with colic and randomly assigned them to two groups: a drug called dimethicone taken daily for two weeks or spinal manipulation for two weeks by a local Chiropractor.
Results
The results showed that Chiropractic adjustments were effective in reducing colic symptoms, especially the average hours per day spent crying (see table below). A surprising result was that the use of drugs was not particularly effective and certainly less effective than Chiropractic care. The study concluded: "Spinal manipulation has a positive short-term effect on infantile colic."
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England
Goes
Smoke-Free!
With the ban on smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces beginning in July, here are a few more reasons to give up smoking:
- Reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease and lung diseases
- Reduce your risk of osteoporosis and fracture
- Reduce the chances of your children suffering from asthma or glue ear
- Improve your fertility and your chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby
- Improve your breathing and general fitness
- Protect the health of the people you care about by not making them breathe your secondhand smoke
- Reduce your risk of gangrene or amputation caused by circulation problems
- Enjoy the taste of food more
USEFUL CONTACTS:
NHS Stop Smoking
Helpline: 0800 169 0 169
www.gosmokefree.co.uk
QUIT
a charity offering support and information as well as an exercise programme.
Helpline: 0800 00 22 00
www.quit.org.uk |
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