According to a small controlled study, infection caused by Helicobacter pylori causes colic in infants. The results of this study were published in the July issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

The results of many studies highlight the pathogenesis and immunology of intestinal disorders, as well as the extra-intestinal manifestations caused by H. pylori, however, in this study, the role of H. pylori in the development of intestinal colic in infants.

Despite the frequency of intestinal colic in infants, the causes of its development are not yet well understood. According to various authors, its prevalence varies from 5 to 40%.

A study of the role of H. infection. pylori, the appearance of intestinal colic in infants is an important step in the study of the pathogenesis of various diseases of young children whose etiology is not clear.

The study included 55 children with intestinal disorders aged 2 to 4 weeks. All children received standard medical care, vaccinations or other medical procedures in outpatient facilities in Saudi Arabia from May to September 2009. All children examined had established criteria for intestinal colic, including low intakes weight, anxiety and crying for 3 hours a day more than 3 days a week and for more than 3 weeks.

Other possible causes of the disorder, including abnormalities of the central nervous system, bone fractures or other injuries, infections, foreign bodies, as well as other digestive problems other than intestinal colic, have been excluded.

The control group included 30 children, while the distribution of patients by nationality, age, sex and race was correlated with the study group.

To identify the causative agent in children in both groups, the presence of H. antigen was determined pylori in the feces. The mothers completed a special questionnaire, including questions about their health and how often and for how long the baby cried. Out of 55 children, 45 (81.8%) tested positive for H. pylori. Among 30 children in the control group, only 7 people (23.3%) revealed the presence of H. pylori, and in 23 (76.7%) the analysis was negative (odds ratio, 15.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.9-29.8).

This is not the first study in which H. pylori is considered to be a possible factor contributing to the development of intestinal colic in infants. According to some studies, the daily prescription of probiotics can relieve the symptoms of colic.

Thus, summarizing the results of recent studies, the authors concluded that Helicobacter pylori is a likely etiological agent that causes intestinal colic in infants.