A Conversation About Gut Immaturity, Feeding, Fussiness, and Colic

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This education is about:

  • Definition of excessive crying in infancy (ie, infant colic)
  • Short- and long-term consequences of infant colic
  • Connections between gut immaturity, dysbiosis, and colic
  • Clinical management of infant colic
  • Support for caregivers of infants with colic

Why it matters: 
Infant colic is a relatively common, self-limited condition that is nonetheless distressing to caregivers, increasing the risk of postpartum depression, anxiety, and abusive head trauma. The management of colic focuses largely on providing counseling and support to caregivers, tasks that often fall to pediatric healthcare providers. Knowledge about colic diagnosis, management, and caregiver support is critically important for clinicians who provide care for infants.

Target Audience:

This activity is designed to support primary care physicians, general practitioners, pediatricians, and other healthcare providers who treat infants and children.

Course Credit:

0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM

Dates:

Opens: 2024-10-04
Closes: 2026-10-04

Written By
Jessica Martin, PhD

Medically Reviewed By
Sarah Staskiewicz, RDN, and William Hay, Jr, MD

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Mead Johnson Nutrition.
  • Flavia Indrio, MD

    Full Professor of Pediatrics
    University of Salento
    Lecce, Italy

  • Michael J. Wilsey, Jr., MD

    Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
    University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
    Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
    Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Vice Chair, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology
    Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
    St. Petersburg, Florida

Learning Objectives

  • Recognize the role of gut immaturity and microbial dysbiosis in symptoms of infantile colic
  • Apply available clinical management strategies for excessive crying and colic
  • Demonstrate readiness to speak with parents and families about the psychological impact of colic