Dear Doctor,

How can I deal with colic disease?

Bizimungu

Dear Bizimungu,

Colic is a condition of spasm of smooth muscles. It is common in infants and can occur as early as 2 weeks of age. The term applies to any healthy, well-fed infant who cries for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. In infants it can be due to a bowel distension in a growing digestive tract. As babies are exclusively milk fed and bowel movements are also not set, they are prone to flatulence and constipation, causing colic pain.

In adults, colic pain is usually more clear. It is associated with mild, moderate to severe pain in some part of abdomen. Sufferer describe the pain as cramp-like. It may be associated with sensation of bloating or fullness of the abdomen, nausea and or vomiting. Depending on the part where smooth muscles get inflamed and cause spasmodic pain, it is called as biliary colic (affection of bile ducts) or renal colic, where kidneys are involved, intestinal colic. It can occur due to infections (protozoal, viral or bacterial), presence of stones, intestinal occlusion and dyspepsia. Abdominal pain during menstruation is also type of colic.

Treatment of mild or moderate colic consists of giving anti inflammatory or anti spasmodic drugs. If there is associated nausea or vomiting. Giving anti emetic drugs is also helpful. Local herbal or natural remedies are also used, but this depends on availability of herbs and past experience of people with them. Treatment of the underlying causes cures the colic as well.

However, if the pain is severe and persistent, there is marked vomiting and the tummy is painful on touching the affected part. It is advisable to consult a hospital for surveillance and better management because these symptoms suggest severe life threatening conditions like perforation of a visceral part or total intestinal occlusion.

 Dr Rachna Pande  is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital