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Family Wellness First
The E-newsletter for Parents to make Informed Health Care Choices
Infantile
Colic
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It seems that digestive disorder in infants is on the rise. Infantile colic is a common condition that from 25-40 percent of babies. The medical literature says infantile colic is difficult to diagnose and that if it is colic, most children will "outgrow it" by 12 weeks of age. Medical treatment for infant colic include drugs like dimethicone. Occasionally the parents are advised to change formula from milk to soy based. Most of these treatments, however, haven't offered parents and babies the relief hoped for. Perhaps it is that these treatments are merely treating symptoms and not getting to the functional cause of the problem.
Additional to treating symptoms comes advice for the parents. This can be a very trying time for parents as they are caring for an inconsolable child and their alit to remain calm is taxed. Web MD offers this advice: "A colicky baby can be exhausting, Wessel tells WebMD, especially for new mothers. "So now, more than ever, be good to yourself and remember that you're only human". As for easing the baby's pains, parents are generally advised to "wait it out." Although the advice to be patient is well-meaning, it does not ease the baby's ailment, nor does it really help the parents cope with their difficult circumstances.
There is a better option! Three to four months of sleepless nights and living with a baby in pain can seem like forever. Chiropractors have known that specific spinal adjustments can get to the cause of what is ailing these hurting infants. There are numerous case studies where infants with colic have been relieved of their painful symptoms with chiropractic care.
This study, "The short-term effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of infantile colic: a randomized controlled clinical trial with a blinded observer", published in the Journal of Manipulative Therapeutics recommends chiropractic care. The results of this study showed a better ratio of decreased discomfort and crying associated with colic pains when parents utilized chiropractic care as opposed to the common drug: dimethicone. The authors concluded that adjustments are effective in relieving infantile colic. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=10543581&dopt=Abstract
The Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research recently sent out this report:
Chiropractic management of infantile colic
Objective: To present two case studies in which the complete resolution of infantile colic and associated symptoms was achieved with chiropractic treatment. This case series supports the aetiological mechanism of an imbalanced autonomic nervous system, via somatovisceral reflexes secondary to regional cranial and spinal dysfunction. In addition, they provide support towards the birth process being a causative factor in the development of colic.
Design: A case series.
Setting: Private chiropractic practice.
Subjects: The first case involved a 7-week-old male infant presenting with medically diagnosed colic, with associated reflux and disturbed sleep, all of which were persistent since birth. The second infant, aged 10 weeks, had suffered maternally diagnosed colic for approximately 1 month. Associated symptoms included some vomiting and asymmetry with breast-feeding. Both infants demonstrated many typical colic characteristics and had experienced birth trauma. Upper cervical, mid thoracic, sacroiliac and cranial dysfunction was recorded in both cases.
Methods: Each infant received diversified paediatric chiropractic manipulation to the areas diagnosed as dysfunctional. Treatment was provided over a 3-week period, though the intensity differed for the two infants.
Results: Complete resolution of all presenting symptoms was achieved in both instances.
Conclusion: These cases suggest a possible association between birth trauma; the development of cranial and spinal segmental dysfunction and consequential manifestation of symptoms of infantile colic. Secondly, they demonstrate chiropractic treatment successfully restoring correct spinal and cranial motion, with an associated resolution of symptoms.
Hipperson AJ. Clinical Chiropractic. December 2004; Vol. 7, Iss. 4, pp. 180-186. (newsletter@fcer.org)
To read additional studies and articles about Chiropractic and colic visit: http://www.icpa4kids.org/research/chiropractic/colic.htm and http://www.icpa4kids.org/research/children/colic.htm
To find a doctor of chiropractic in your area who works with children visit: http://www.icpa4kids.org/find.htm
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