Infant colic: evidence-based care
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Fernández Medina IM. Cólico del lactante: cuidados basados en la evidencia. Metas Enferm 2013; 16(4):50-55.
Authors
Isabel María Fernández Medina
Position
Enfermera y fisioterapeuta. Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Almería.
Contact address
Hospital Virgen de las Nieves. C/ Bretón, 1, 1º D. Puente del Río. Adra (Almería).
Contact email: isabelmariafm@hotmail.com
Abstract
Infant Colic (IC) is considered a frequent occurrence with several causes involved. This is one of the processes which cause higher anxiety in parents, and no consensus has been reached yet in terms of its treatment.
Objective: to determine the available scientific evidence about the efficacy of treatment measures for Infant Colic.
Methodology: bibliographic review through search in the following databases: Cochrane Database Reviews, Medline and Cinahl, including clinical trials, systematic reviews and meta-analysis about IC treatment intervention, by using and combining the terms “infant”, “colic”, “etiology” and “treatment”.
Results and conclusions: twenty articles were selected. Those treatments identified may be grouped into pharmacological interventions, and
manual, behavioral and dietetic therapies. Treatment using medication is not effective for IC. Those therapeutic methods with proven efficacy have been: administration of glucose and sucrose for symptom relief, and use of probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus reuteri, which reduces the incidence of colic. The use of manual therapies, such as cranial and vertebral osteopathy, improves the symptomatology. Behavioral treatment and counseling for parents has also been considered effective in IC treatment. However, more research is required in order to reach a consensus in terms of the evidence for effective treatment of infant colic.
Objective: to determine the available scientific evidence about the efficacy of treatment measures for Infant Colic.
Methodology: bibliographic review through search in the following databases: Cochrane Database Reviews, Medline and Cinahl, including clinical trials, systematic reviews and meta-analysis about IC treatment intervention, by using and combining the terms “infant”, “colic”, “etiology” and “treatment”.
Results and conclusions: twenty articles were selected. Those treatments identified may be grouped into pharmacological interventions, and
manual, behavioral and dietetic therapies. Treatment using medication is not effective for IC. Those therapeutic methods with proven efficacy have been: administration of glucose and sucrose for symptom relief, and use of probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus reuteri, which reduces the incidence of colic. The use of manual therapies, such as cranial and vertebral osteopathy, improves the symptomatology. Behavioral treatment and counseling for parents has also been considered effective in IC treatment. However, more research is required in order to reach a consensus in terms of the evidence for effective treatment of infant colic.
Keywords:
colic; infant; newbornpediatric nursing
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