Praktické lekárnictvo 2/2022

Infantile colic and the possibilities of their therapeutic influencing

Infantile colic (IC) is a common, functional gastrointestinal disorder in the newborn and infant period. IC affects up to 40 % of infants and usually wanes between the 10th and 12th week of age. While examing a child with IC, red flags pointing at a possible underlying organic cause should be sought. Parenteral education and reassurance are the cornerstones in IC treatment. Reduction of potential dietary allergens can have a positive effect in select cases. Based on available data, it would seem that, in fully breast-fed babies, probiotics with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 can reduce crying time by almost 50 minutes. Probiotics with Bifidobacterium breve B036 and B632 and some synbiotic mixtures also seem to have a promising effect. However, further studies are required for verification of the efficacy of both probiotics and synbiotics.

Keywords: infantile colic, functional gastrointestinal disorders, gut microbiota and dysbiosis, education, probiotics, synbiotics