Frequency of Infant Colic: Cohort Study

Authors

  • Manar A. Eldesouky
  • Eman A. Sharaf
  • Samir Mohamed Elbahnacy
  • Sarah Abdelrashid

Keywords:

Maternal smoking, Antibiotics, mode of delivery, Dysbiosis, Infantile colic

Abstract

Background: Infantile colic (IC) is a common Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder (FGID) affecting infants, characterized by excessive crying and discomfort without an identifiable organic cause. It is hypothesized that gut microbiota imbalance (dysbiosis) plays a crucial role in its etiology. Various risk factors such as delivery method, type of feeding, maternal smoking, and antibiotic exposure may contribute to its occurrence.

Objective: our investigation aimed to estimate the frequency of infantile colic and investigate its association with potential risk factors linked to dysbiosis.

Methods: This was a cohort study involving 150 newborns admitted to October 6 University Hospital. Based on how they were delivered, infants were split into two distinct groups.: Group 1 (n=92) born via normal vaginal delivery (NVD) and Group 2 (n=58) born via cesarean section (CS). Data collection included demographic characteristics, maternal and neonatal risk factors, type of feeding, and colic frequency.

Results: Infantile colic was observed in 46.7% and 44.8% in the NVD and CS groups respectively, exhibiting no significant distinctions between the two delivery methods (p>0.05). Breastfeeding was negatively associated with increased risk of infantile colic, whereas formula and mixed feeding were linked to a higher prevalence (p<0.001). Maternal antibiotic use before delivery and maternal smoking were substantially associated with higher likelihood of colic (p=0.044 and p=0.035, respectively). Neonatal hospitalization also tended to be higher in colicky infants with no statistical significance.

Conclusion: The study suggests that infantile colic is prevalent among newborns regardless of the mode of delivery. However, factors including antibiotic use by mothers, smoking, and feeding type play a critical role in its development. Promoting exclusive breastfeeding and minimizing perinatal experiencing antibiotic in the perinatal period may help reduce the incidence of infantile colic.

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Published

2025-05-12

How to Cite

1.
A. Eldesouky M, A. Sharaf E, Mohamed Elbahnacy S, Abdelrashid S. Frequency of Infant Colic: Cohort Study. J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2025May12 [cited 2025Sep.25];14(21S):1181-7. Available from: https://www.jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/5672

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 21S (2025): Journal of Neonatal Surgery

Section

Original Article

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