One of the most common questions we receive from parents is how to treat infant colic and get rid of this problem quickly because of its annoying symptoms that affect children physically and psychologically. Children usually complain of stomach pain frequently, some of which are possible and can be controlled at home, and some of them occur repeatedly and are accompanied by annoying symptoms that require a treatment plan that we will learn about in detail by following this article.
What is infantile colic?
Infant colic is a common condition that includes abdominal pain that varies in severity from one child to another depending on the causes of colic. This condition affects children of all ages, from infants to children under 12 years of age. It may be temporary and can be easily alleviated with some home instructions, and it may continue for a period accompanied by other symptoms, which necessitates consulting a specialist doctor.
Causes of colic in children
The causes of infant colic are numerous and may sometimes be linked to a health problem that requires medical treatment in order to safely treat infant colic. Among the most important reasons are the following:
- Infection: This includes stomach and intestine infections, kidney infections, bladder infections, and chest infections as well.
- Digestive system disorders: such as gas and bloating due to eating foods such as legumes or soft drinks.
- Food-related problem: such as eating too much food, a food allergy, or poisoning.
- Intestinal problems: such as constipation, diarrhea, or القولون العصبي.
- Acute and urgent cases: such as appendicitis and intestinal obstruction.
- A problem outside the abdomen and stomach: such as muscle strain.
Symptoms of colic in children
Symptoms of colic in children differ slightly from those of infants. In infants, they are accompanied by continuous, uninterrupted screaming and crying, with the leg constricting and stiffening towards the chest due to pain. However, symptoms in older children include:
- Severe abdominal pain that is intermittent or constant and is usually indicated by the child.
- The child experiences sleep disturbances due to pain, with a constant feeling of fatigue and discomfort.
- Abdominal bloating due to the accumulation of gases and this appears on the abdomen, making it appear swollen and constricted.
- Anorexia Not wanting to eat due to fear of increased abdominal pain after eating.
- In some cases, colic may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, especially if it is caused by an infectious infection.
- Constipation or diarrhea depends on the cause of colic, and the condition must be controlled when treating colic in children.
Types of colic in children
The types of colic in children are usually divided according to the causes and help greatly in developing an appropriate treatment plan. They include 7 types:
- Colic resulting from indigestion and occurs after eating fatty meals, accompanied by bloating.
- Colic due to gas and occurs after eating some foods such as legumes or soft drinks.
- Irritable bowel syndrome is rare in children, but the child may suffer from it, accompanied by changes in bowel movement.
- Colic resulting from gastritis due to a bacterial or viral infection and is accompanied by vomiting and severe diarrhea with fever.
- Colic with constipation and occurs with lack of fiber intake and drinking fluids, which leads to difficulty in excretion.
- Allergic colic due to sensitivity to certain foods, such as dairy and gluten, and is accompanied by digestive disorders and skin rashes.
- Psychogenic colic is one of the most annoying types of colic in children and is accompanied by anxiety and fear that appear in the child without a physical cause.
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Methods of treating colic in children
There are many ways to treat infant colic, depending on the symptoms associated with colic, the severity of the colic, and the main cause of abdominal pain in the child. What helps in choosing the appropriate treatment method is a comprehensive medical diagnosis by the pediatrician to know the appropriate protocol for the child. Below we learn about the most popular treatment methods:
Home treatment
Home treatment for colic can be useful for simple cases and may be sufficient in some cases. It includes warming the abdomen by placing a bag of warm water wrapped in a towel on the abdomen, in addition to massaging the area that hurts the child with circular movements, which helps expel gases, while giving the child some warm drinks such as mint or cumin water.
Dietary modification
It is necessary to make nutritional adjustments for the child, especially if the cause of colic is eating foods that cause indigestion. Foods that should be avoided include legumes, soft drinks, spicy foods, fried foods, and irritating foods that contain a large percentage of fat, in addition to dividing meals for the child to help digest the food.
العلاج الدوائي
Drug treatment is one of the most important steps that helps control colic quickly, but it is required that the child take it under the supervision of the treating physician so that it does not produce adverse results. Among the most important medications for treating colic are:
- Dentinox drops for infants contain natural ingredients that help relieve colic.
- Simethicone, which helps treat and expel gases, reducing bloating.
- Streptoquin syrup, which contains antibacterial substances that effectively reduce cramps, and is a useful medicine in cases of colic accompanied by diarrhea.
Emergency surgical treatment
If appendicitis is suspected and the pain in the lower abdomen increases when pressed on it, along with a high temperature, the child must be transferred immediately to the hospital, and all tests must be performed, such as an ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen. Then treatment of infant colic begins with surgical intervention by removing the appendix.
Also, if intestinal obstruction is suspected and the colic becomes severe until it comes in the form of seizures with stool passing with pain for long periods, x-rays or ultrasound diagnosis must be performed and surgical intervention must be expedited to treat acute intestinal obstruction.
The best treatment for infant colic
The doctor chooses the best treatment for infant colic depending on the child’s condition and the severity of the condition. The doctor must first begin by doing a medical history for the child with a clinical examination, then examine the abdomen with an ultrasound or appropriate x-ray and perform some medical tests, then choose the best treatment for infant colic.
It is preferable to contact the specialist doctors in the pediatric clinics at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital to find out the best treatment that suits your child’s condition after making a detailed diagnosis of the condition and finding out the cause of stomach pain.
The 7 most important tips after treating infant colic
The specialist doctors at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital provide you with 7 important tips after treating infant colic so that the condition does not return or reoccur again, including:
- Drink plenty of water and fluids, especially when the child has been vomiting for a long time, to avoid dehydration.
- Avoid eating right before bedtime and avoid delay and lack of sleep, which causes indigestion and stomach disorders.
- Exercise daily, especially abdominal exercises, which help stimulate bowel movement and prevent constipation.
- Modify the diet to avoid foods that irritate the stomach and divide meals into small, frequent meals.
- Avoid some bad habits, such as eating fast food, eating quickly without digesting, and reducing soft drinks.
- In case of constipation, you should eat more foods rich in fiber, such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
- Monitor the symptoms after treating infant colic and follow up with the doctor constantly. If any abnormal symptoms appear, you must immediately go to the hospital for reassurance.
If your child complains of stomach pain repeatedly, you should contact us at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital to begin treating infant colic with an organized and approved protocol after diagnosing the condition and knowing the cause of the colic. Do not worry at all, as the hospital includes a group of the best and most skilled pediatricians in the Arab world. With us, you are in safe hands.
Frequently asked questions
Learn with us below about the most important questions we receive about methods of treating infant colic:
How do I relieve baby colic?
The child's colic can be relieved with appropriate medications after consulting a doctor to find out the cause of the colic first. Colic can also be relieved by drinking some warm herbs and gently massaging the abdominal area, but it is necessary to ask the doctor to find out the cause.
What is the treatment for colic at home?
Treating colic at home cannot be applied to all cases, but if the child feels colic, warm herbs such as chamomile or cumin water can be used, along with warm compresses on the abdomen. It is best, if colic continues daily, to consult a doctor.
What is the best medicine for stomach ache for children?
In the case of colic in infants, simethicone drops are preferred, which help eliminate gases resulting from breastfeeding. As for older children, papaverine can be given to treat abdominal cramps, but please consult a doctor before giving the medication.
How do I get rid of stomach ache in children?
Contact the outpatient clinics of Al Mousa Specialist Hospital to learn about the best methods of treatment and relief from abdominal pain in children after knowing the main cause of colic, then evaluating the condition and creating a comprehensive prescription for its treatment.
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