GUT MOTILITY ALTERATIONS IN NEONATES AND YOUNG INFANTS: RELATION TO COLIC?

Colic usually affects babies in the first few weeks of their lives and persists for about 4 months. Crying can be intense and furious and it may last for several hours per day for several weeks. Although crying can occur at any time, it is usually worse in the late afternoon and evening, and occasionally affects the baby’s sleep. Infantile colic is not considered a disease, fulfilling instead criteria for a functional disorder. Research shows that babies with colic continue to eat and gain weight appropriately, despite the crying (1). The main risk for these babies relates to the stress and anxiety that the condition creates at home, especially when it affects the first child. The cause of colic is not known. Painful flatus may contribute to colic, but there is little evidence to prove that it is linked to digestive problems (2). Another theory is that while the digestive system is maturing, some babies are more sensitive to substances such as lactose ingested through breast-feeding and formula milk; however, evidence to support this hypothesis also is limited. Other possible cause relate to the baby’s behavior and temperament. Among the gastrointestinal (GI) factors, we focus on non-nutritive pathophysiology such as the relation of colic to gastroesophageal (GER) reflux, GI motility disorders, the role of gut hormones, and intestinal microflora.