Colic in Infants

How is the condition diagnosed?

Colic is what is called a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that, before making this diagnosis, a reasonable effort must be made to rule out other causes for an infant's fussiness or crying. Parents should discuss the situation with the baby's healthcare provider. The infant should be taken to the office for an examination. Despite the crying and fussiness, infants with colic usually feed, urinate, eliminate, and gain weight normally.

If other symptoms occur, more serious conditions may be the cause of the crying. For example, vomiting, bloody stools, or coughing suggest underlying medical problems.