Colic - Effective Treatment For Colic

Colic is that condition wherein the baby cries and screams for no apparent reason. Colic is also known as infant colic, baby colic, three month colic or Infantile colic. This condition usually happens to new born babies or more specifically on the first three to four months of the baby after its delivery. This condition is a common case in bottle-fed babies, but this can also happens on breast-fed infants.

The frequency of colic is much pronounced on babies that are bottle-fed. Usually the crying of the infant will happen on a specific time of the day and can happen as well early evening. The causes of colic is not yet firmly resolved though by tradition it has been thought of that colic is caused by abdominal pain and abdominal pain in turn is caused by the trapped gases in the digestive tract of the baby. This is the traditional belief and still believed up to now. Right now it is suggested that colic is related to gut flora and includes the lack of Lactobacillus acidophilus. And to address this condition, it is suggested that the baby should take probiotic and it is believe that this can improve the condition of the patient. Probiotics are naturally-occurring in the breastmilk. Others suggest that colic is caused by a combination of the infant's sensitive temperament, the environment and the immaturity of the baby's nervous system. There are other causes that are listed but what matters the most is to treat colic as soon as possible.

Treatment For Colic
Doctors believe that colic is untreatable and as such it is suggested that the condition should be left alone and left to run its course. Others would suggest the use of simethicone and this drug is used to treat trapped gas. The efficiency of this drug generated mixed results; other parents point to the efficiency of the drug and others see no difference. Based on research, the use of semithicone doesn't help in any way. One drug that was proven on tests is the dicyclomine. This is an anti-spasmotic drug and this can be seen in some anti-diarrheal drug. This drug has moderate success in treating colic on babies. There is one drawback on the use of this drug as a choice of treatment. Dicyclomine has around five percent rate of minor side effects on babies. As mentioned, probiotics like the Lactobacillus reuteri have a hand in addressing colic as these probiotics help reduce gas.

Aside from the use of these drugs, there are other alternative therapies that are used. Some of these alternative therapies include the use of Fennel, dill, chamomile and other herbs. These herbs are the main ingredients on gripe water. Gripe water is believed to relieve some of the symptoms that are associated with colic. Though this is used, the United States Food and Drug Administration see no success in the solution and do not advocate the use of the water. Aside from drug and alternative therapies, it is suggested as well that parents can use soothing measures. Examples of these include pacifiers, listening to white noise and rocking to calm the baby.