Have access already?

Get access to this chapter:

Or get access to the entire book:

Chapter 11: Case Study: Infant Colic

Additional resources for this chapter

instructor material

DOI:

10.1891/9780826116819.0011

Authors

  • Cifelli, Kimberly
  • Bourassa, Caroline
  • Neilan, Amanda
  • Heiner, Kelsey
  • Hay, Kristen

Abstract

This chapter presents a case study of infant colic that provide exemplary practices for assessing, diagnosing, and evaluating children presented with the particular behavioral health problem. Colic is a diagnosis by exclusion. Even the most experienced parents question their parenting abilities when confronted with an infant with colic. The persistent crying frustrates the parents, especially when efforts to comfort the infant fail. Pediatric primary care providers (P-PCPs) play a significant role in ruling out organic causes for the persistent crying and in intercepting potential adverse outcomes through anticipatory guidance and implementation of the currently best available evidence for treatment management of colic. Assessing for possible maternal depression is an important part of the treatment plan, with appropriate referrals for mothers of infants who may be struggling while caring for the infants in the first few months of life prior to the naturally anticipated alleviation of colic symptoms.