A Close Up Look At What Causes Colic
Learn More about Biliary Colic
One of several types of colic, biliary colic is the most common symptoms of gallstones. Unlike colic in infants, biliary colic generally only affects individuals over twenty years of age and the causes of the pain are clearly understood by the medical community.
From its name, many would assume that biliary colic has a great deal in common with other forms of colic, including the type suffered by many infants. However, this is a unique medical condition, and although there are some similarities, biliary colic is distinct from other forms of colic.
What is it?
Biliary colic is severe pain in the upper abdomen, usually in the middle of the upper abdomen or on the right side of that region. It is often described as a constant, cramping pain that lasts anywhere from fifteen minutes to four or five hours. The pain of this type of colic can be accompanied by feelings of nausea. Once it has occurred in a patient, it is likely to happen over and over again until the gallstones are removed.
Who gets it?
Discomfort caused by biliary colic is the most common symptom experienced by people with gallstones. Some estimates say that as many as eighty percent of people with gallstones who have symptoms experience the pain of biliary colic. Gallstones form in the gallbladder when the liquid in this region hardens.
These gallstones then get stuck and cause a clock either in the gallbladder itself, which is a small sac located under the liver where bile is stored, or in the bile ducts, the tubes through which bile is trained from the liver into the small intestines and gallbladder.
People who are likely to get gallstones, and thus experience biliary colic, are generally:
- Over twenty years old
- Overweight
- Consume a diet high in fat, particularly cholesterol
Is it related to colic in infants?
Although they share a name, biliary colic is not related to the colic experienced by infants. In fact, the two share little other than a name.
Biliary colic is a symptom of a medical condition and once the gallstones have been removed, the pain of colic goes away. In contrast the cause of colic for infants is unknown, and there is not certain or single cure for it. While biliary colic will not go away until the gallstones are removed, infant colic passes on its own when the baby outgrows it.
Understanding what is colic
If you are wondering what colic is you are definitely not alone. Just the mention of the word “colic” can bring concern and fear to parents’ eyes whether they are on their first child or their fifth. Most people think of crying when they think of colic, but they may not know much more than that.
While colic is a pretty widespread issue for infants, it is not completely understood by the medical or child development communities. However, there is a good deal we do know about colic, and it is a good idea for every parent to understand this condition.
Colic defined
Colic is a medical condition that occurs in infants, usually when they have reached about three weeks of age. It is diagnosed when healthy babies cry harder than one would expect in a “three pattern.” A three pattern means that the infant is crying for more than three hours a day, more than three times a week, for at least three weeks in a row. This is how a parent can tell that their child has colic and that he or she is not just fussy.
Understanding normal and temporary
The most important thing to remember if your child has colic is that colic is completely normal and occurs in somewhere between fifteen and 25 percent of infants. It does not indicate any health problems or illness in your little one and it will not adversely impact their growth and development in the future. Although it is painful for parents to watch and experience, remembering that the infant is not in danger and will not be harmed can be comforting.
The second most important thing to keep in mind is that colic is usually temporary. Although there is no guaranteed, known cure for colic, most children grow out of it by three months. For some, it may take up to six months for colic to fade completely, but the colic will most certainly end.
Tips for handling colic
If your infant has colic, you may want to try some common ways of soothing him or her to stop the crying.
Some suggestions that parents find helpful include:
Swaddling. Wrapping your baby snugly into a blanket may make it easier for him or her to fall asleep and stay asleep
Bouncing or rocking. Smooth and repetitive motions can help stop a baby’s tears
White noise. Ambient noise can help block out disturbing sounds, making it easier for the baby to stay asleep and avoid excessive stimulation.
If you believe that your infant may have colic, you should seek assistance from your pediatrician who can offer more insights and a correct diagnosis.
Parents of infants and young children often want to know what causes colic. Parents of children who may have colic know that an infant who exhibits the symptoms associated with colic can be very challenging. In a baby who does not have colic, crying is a way of communicating some sort of need. The baby may be hungry, thirsty, tired, or have a dirty diaper.
In any of these situations, it is easy for a parent to solve the problem once they identify it, which will result in a calm baby once again. However, for parents of infants with colic, helping a baby stop crying simply is not that easy.
So what exactly is colic?
Before any discussion of the causes of colic, it is important to define colic. Colic is a condition where a healthy baby who has a healthy appetite cries loudly without an apparent cause. The child will clench his or her fists, flex the abdomen, arch the back, and often pull the knees into their body as they scream and cry.
This is different from a typical baby crying in duration, cause, and frequency. Colic is a fairly common issue for children, affecting about one in five infants, and does not have any long-term effects on the children who suffer from it. There is no known cure for colic and most infants outgrow the colic phase of their life by the time they reach three months of age.
Common causes of colic
The causes of colic remain something of a mystery. Doctors and leading child development experts have yet to come to an agreement about the causes. However, there are several leading theories as to the cause of this condition.
Common theories behind colic include:
Indigestion or gas. A common symptom of colic is gas, so many people believe that the infant may be crying due to issues with excessive and painful gas.
Immature digestive system. This is related to the idea that indigestion/gas cause colic in that indigestion and gas would be symptoms of a poorly functioning digestive system. Infants are born with a digestive system that has never digested food consumed through the mouth. As such, the infant may be having problems digesting their food that cause discomfort and crying. As the infant ages, the digestive system develops more fully, which would explain why colic passes after a certain amount of time.
Allergies. Along with the link of colic to digestive problems, some think that colic may be a reaction to certain foods that are consumed by mothers who breastfeed or ingredients in formula. According to this theory, the baby is unable to digest those foods or is having an allergic reaction to them.
Temperament. Others believe that colic is a reflection of a baby with a more sensitive temperament, making them more susceptible to aggravation from lights, sounds, or other disturbances. As the child gets older, he or she is better able to control the crying reaction to stimulus, leading to the end of the colic phase.
As there is no certain cause for colic, there is no single solution to comforting your colicky baby. Most parents find that by trying a variety of solutions, they will eventually find one that works for them and their infant.
Next Article
One of several types of colic, biliary colic is the most common symptoms of gallstones. Unlike colic in infants, biliary colic generally only affects individuals over twenty years of age and the causes of the pain are clearly understood by the medical community.
From its name, many would assume that biliary colic has a great deal in common with other forms of colic, including the type suffered by many infants. However, this is a unique medical condition, and although there are some similarities, biliary colic is distinct from other forms of colic.
What is it?
Biliary colic is severe pain in the upper abdomen, usually in the middle of the upper abdomen or on the right side of that region. It is often described as a constant, cramping pain that lasts anywhere from fifteen minutes to four or five hours. The pain of this type of colic can be accompanied by feelings of nausea. Once it has occurred in a patient, it is likely to happen over and over again until the gallstones are removed.
Who gets it?
Discomfort caused by biliary colic is the most common symptom experienced by people with gallstones. Some estimates say that as many as eighty percent of people with gallstones who have symptoms experience the pain of biliary colic. Gallstones form in the gallbladder when the liquid in this region hardens.
These gallstones then get stuck and cause a clock either in the gallbladder itself, which is a small sac located under the liver where bile is stored, or in the bile ducts, the tubes through which bile is trained from the liver into the small intestines and gallbladder.
People who are likely to get gallstones, and thus experience biliary colic, are generally:
- Over twenty years old
- Overweight
- Consume a diet high in fat, particularly cholesterol
Is it related to colic in infants?
Although they share a name, biliary colic is not related to the colic experienced by infants. In fact, the two share little other than a name.
Biliary colic is a symptom of a medical condition and once the gallstones have been removed, the pain of colic goes away. In contrast the cause of colic for infants is unknown, and there is not certain or single cure for it. While biliary colic will not go away until the gallstones are removed, infant colic passes on its own when the baby outgrows it.
Next Article
While colic is a pretty widespread issue for infants, it is not completely understood by the medical or child development communities. However, there is a good deal we do know about colic, and it is a good idea for every parent to understand this condition.
Colic defined
Colic is a medical condition that occurs in infants, usually when they have reached about three weeks of age. It is diagnosed when healthy babies cry harder than one would expect in a “three pattern.” A three pattern means that the infant is crying for more than three hours a day, more than three times a week, for at least three weeks in a row. This is how a parent can tell that their child has colic and that he or she is not just fussy.
Understanding normal and temporary
The most important thing to remember if your child has colic is that colic is completely normal and occurs in somewhere between fifteen and 25 percent of infants. It does not indicate any health problems or illness in your little one and it will not adversely impact their growth and development in the future. Although it is painful for parents to watch and experience, remembering that the infant is not in danger and will not be harmed can be comforting.
The second most important thing to keep in mind is that colic is usually temporary. Although there is no guaranteed, known cure for colic, most children grow out of it by three months. For some, it may take up to six months for colic to fade completely, but the colic will most certainly end.
Tips for handling colic
If your infant has colic, you may want to try some common ways of soothing him or her to stop the crying.
Some suggestions that parents find helpful include:
Swaddling. Wrapping your baby snugly into a blanket may make it easier for him or her to fall asleep and stay asleep
Bouncing or rocking. Smooth and repetitive motions can help stop a baby’s tears
White noise. Ambient noise can help block out disturbing sounds, making it easier for the baby to stay asleep and avoid excessive stimulation.
If you believe that your infant may have colic, you should seek assistance from your pediatrician who can offer more insights and a correct diagnosis.
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