A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INFANTILE COLIC AND SOME CHRONIC GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) DISORDERS OF CHILDHOOD.

Abstract

80 AIM: To determine and compare the relative risks of developing a chronic functional GI disorder (constipation, recurrent abdominal pain [RAP]) versus a chronic organic GI disorder (inflammatory bowel disease) when the past medical history includes infantile colic. METHODS: Patients were recruited between July 1 and October 31, 1997 from attendees of a GI Clinic. Controls were recruited from attendees of other subspecialty clinics in the same vicinity during the same period. A questionnaire designed to establish a previous history of infantile colic was completed by parents. Colic was defined as: 3 hours of fussing or crying at least 3 days a week for a period of at least 3 weeks in a healthy, thriving infant, beginning between the ages of 2 weeks and 3 months and lasting up to or shortly after 6 months of age. RESULTS: (Table)TABLECONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the relative risk of developing chronic constipation or RAP in childhood are approximately 2 and 3 times greater (respectively) for those with a prior history of colic than for those without. In an infant with colic, the risks of developing chronic constipation or RAP in childhood are 4 and 6 times the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease.