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The condition typically appears within the first few months of life and almost invariably disappears, often very suddenly, before the baby is eight months old. It is more common in Bottle-fed babies, but also occurs in Breast-fed kids. The crying frequently occurs during a specific period of the day, often in the early evening. Since the cause is not conclusively established (see below) and the amount of crying differs between babies, there is no general consensus on the definition of "colic". Having ruled out other causes of crying, a common rule of thumb is to consider a baby "colicky" if it cries intensely more than three days a week, for more than three hours, for more than three weeks in a month. CAUSES There is no commonly accepted explanation for colic. Traditionally, colic was ascribed to abdominal pain resulting from trapped gas in the digestive tract. This theory is not yet discredited, and some recent scientific evidence seems to support it, yet it is no longer universally accepted as the general cause. Some doctors claim that it is a combination of a baby's sensitive temperament, the environment and his immature Nervous System , which make him cry easily and then not being able to control it, while others believe that it originates in problems in the baby's Digestive System , specifically because of the build up of gas which can not be released. New studies at the Colic Clinic at Brown University demonstrate that nearly half of babies with colic have mild Gastroesophageal Reflux . It is also possible that some cases may be the result of Lactose Intolerance . {Link without Title} Recent research raises a number of hypotheses including a link to the onset of and increased Stress levels of the prenatal mother in the third Trimester {Link without Title} . TREATMENT There is presently no generally accepted medical treatment for colic, and the approach taken by medical professionals varies substantially from country to country and indeed from doctor to doctor. Many believe that the condition is presently untreatable, and is best left to run its course. Other doctors prescribe Simethicone , which treats trapped gas; some parents report that this is effective, but for many others it is not. Many parents try Colief - drops which when added to milk (formula or breast), break down the lactose in the feed. One study showed a moderate success when infants with colic were treated with Dicyclomine , an anti-spasmotic drug commonly found in some anti-diarrheal medications. {Link without Title} However, further studies are warranted before its use can be approved. Colic can be caused by allergies in the mother and/or baby and if feeding the baby from the breast, the mother's diet can be restricted. Mother's omit dairy, egg, soya and processed food (including spices and caffeine) from their diet, drink only water and increase their intake of other foods and suppliments during the time they are breastfeeding for missing nutrients such as calcium. This will not necessarily 'cure' colic, which seems to cure itself after a period of time, but it can certainly make the symptoms lessen - hours of crying and discomfort can be reduced. There is general agreement that soothing measures, such as Pacifier s and rocking, are often effective in calming the baby during crying periods. Some parents resort to a timetable of taking turns to hold the baby upright (which seems to lessen the pain and crying) in shifts to enable the other parent to catch up on sleep. Babies with lactose intolerance or reflux cry more and longer when left to lie on their backs and parents are not allowed to put the baby to sleep on their front as it increases the likelihood of Cot Death . Various tactics, such as changes in diet or routine, an increase in fresh air or certain herbal teas, are popularly believed to cure colic. While some of these may help in certain cases, not one of them is known to be universally effective. The widespread belief in them is thought to result at least partly from the suddenness with which colic naturally resolves itself: many parents keep trying different approaches until the colic suddenly stops, at which point they presume the last thing they tried to be the cure. EFFECT ON THE FAMILY Colic can place an enormous strain on Parent s and other family members. The feeling that they are not providing something their child desperately wants or needs can induce Stress , Depression , feelings of helplessness and low Self-esteem . If crying is prevalent during nighttime hours then these problems can be aggravated by the resulting Sleep Deprivation or interruption to sleep patterns; Exhaustion may also result. Where people live in dense housing such as apartment blocks, persistent crying can also strain relationships with Neighbour s. The stress on parents is often compounded by well-meaning but misguided people who believe that the parents must be doing something wrong. This attitude is quite common among the childless, and also occurs in people who have raised colic-free children themselves. Even those whose own children have suffered from colic and who found a "cure" (see above), can be reluctant to believe that their own suggested approach does not work for somebody else. In some areas, Support Group s have been set up for parents of children with colic. EXTERNAL LINKS
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