M.Tech. / Infantile colic typically occurs in 10-30% of infants between the ages of two weeks and sixteen weeks (Savino, 2007) and may be defined according to “Wessel’s rule of threes” which states that a diagnosis may be made when a healthy baby with no underlying disease cries for more than 3 hours a day on more than 3 days a week for a period of 3 weeks (Zwart et al., 2007). Infantile colic usually begins at two weeks of age and increases in intensity at about six weeks until around sixteen weeks where it usually resolves spontaneously (Cox & Roos, 2008). Its cause is not exactly known but a number of theories are suggestive of causes that may play a role in its development (Pauli-Pott et al., 2000), namely gastrointestinal disorders and allergies, neurological disorders, a stressful parent environment, low birth weight, maternal smoking and diet. Research has shown that the stress from colicky infants can damage early interaction of a family (Raiha et al., 2002). Studies have shown that conventional medication may prove efficacious in the treatment of infantile colic, however, a high rate of side effects are evident (Underwood, 2009). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Magen®, a homeopathic complex on the treatment of Infantile Colic by means of an Infant Colic Questionnaire for infant and caregiver as well as a daily monitoring diary to record the amount and duration of infant crying on a daily basis. The study was approved and passed by the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Health Sciences Academic Ethics Committee (AEC45/02-2010) and the Higher Degrees Committee (HDC45/02-2010) on the 26th of May 2010. There were thirty participants recruited to participate in the study. The thirty participants consisted of both males and females between the ages of two weeks and ten weeks. Of the thirty participants recruited, one was recruited from the Karien Camphor Nursing Practice in Pretoria and the remaining twenty nine were recruited from the Stork’s Nest at Netcare Femina Hospital in Pretoria. Infants had to comply with Wessel’s criteria (infant that cries for more than 3 hours a day on more than 3 days a week for a period of 3 weeks). Infants already diagnosed with an underlying condition other than colic, such as gastroeosophageal reflux disease, any infection or cardiac disease were excluded from the study. The study was a randomised, double-blind placebo controlled study of six days in duration for each participant.

A cólica infantil, caracterizada por choro excessivo e inconsolável do bebê, é um problema comum no período inicial da vida, causando angústia e preocupação às mães. Apesar de ser uma manifestação comum, sua causa ainda é desconhecida. Assim, é necessário propor intervenções ao assistir as mães desses bebês, considerando as necessidades e dificuldades desta clientela no sentido de auxiliá-la a enfrentar e superar este problema. Este estudo teve como objetivo compreender a experiência materna de ter um filho com cólica no período precoce da vida. Optou-se por uma abordagem qualitativa, a Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados e como referencial teórico para análise e interpretação dos dados, o Interacionismo Simbólico. O método de análise de conteúdo baseou-se em 12 discursos de mães que tinham ou tiveram filhos que sofreram de cólica no período inicial da vida e que freqüentavam o seguimento de puericultura e pediatria de um Centro de Saúde Escola, situado na zona oeste da cidade de São Paulo. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevista e observação do contexto, cuja análise permitiu compreender a experiência materna do fenômeno CONVIVENDO COM UM FILHO COM CÓLICA e a categoria central revelou-se como APRENDENDO A LIDAR COM A CÓLICA DO FILHO. O modelo teórico mostra que ter um filho com cólica é uma vivência angustiante e independe de ser mãe de primeiro filho. A compreensão da experiência materna de conviver com um filho acometido de cólica aponta para a necessidade dos profissionais reverem as práticas implementadas no manejo da cólica infantil. O acompanhamento do binômio mãe-filho por meio de atendimento de seguimento no mínimo até o terceiro mês de vida do bebê, incluindo atendimentos domiciliares e a promoção de estratégias de apoio implementadas pelos serviços de saúde podem contribuir para o estabelecimento saudável do vínculo mãe-filho. / The infantile colic, which is characterized by excessive and disconsolate baby’s cry, is a common problem during the initial period of life. It causes the mothers\' distress and worry. Although it is a common manifestation, its cause is still unknown. Then, considering these babies’ mothers’ needs and difficulties, it is necessary to propose an intervention while assisting them, in order to help them to face and overcome the problem. The aim of this study was to understand the experience of the mothers who had a baby with colic during the early period of life. The Theory Based on the Data was the qualitative approach used and the Symbolic Interaction was used as the theoretical reference to analyze and interpret the data. The method used to analyze the content was based on 12 speeches given by mothers who have or had their babies with colic during the initial period of life. These mothers attended the puerile and pediatric segment of a School Health Center located in the west zone of São Paulo city. The data were collected by interviews and observation of the context. The data analysis allowed the understanding of the maternal experience and the phenomenon is LIVING WITH A CHILD WHO HAS COLIC and the central category is LEARNING TO DEAL WITH THE CHILD’S COLIC. The theoretical model shows that having a baby with colic is a distressful experience and it does not matter if it is the mother’s first child or not. The understanding of the mother’s experience who has a child with colic points out that the professionals need to check the practices used while dealing with a child who has colic. The process of following the binomial mother-son by giving them assistance at least until the baby’s third month of life, including homecare and the promotion of supporting strategies implemented by the health services and contributing to the healthy establishment of the mother-child bond.

A cólica infantil, caracterizada por choro excessivo e inconsolável do bebê, é um problema comum no período inicial da vida, causando angústia e preocupação às mães. Apesar de ser uma manifestação comum, sua causa ainda é desconhecida. Assim, é necessário propor intervenções ao assistir as mães desses bebês, considerando as necessidades e dificuldades desta clientela no sentido de auxiliá-la a enfrentar e superar este problema. Este estudo teve como objetivo compreender a experiência materna de ter um filho com cólica no período precoce da vida. Optou-se por uma abordagem qualitativa, a Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados e como referencial teórico para análise e interpretação dos dados, o Interacionismo Simbólico. O método de análise de conteúdo baseou-se em 12 discursos de mães que tinham ou tiveram filhos que sofreram de cólica no período inicial da vida e que freqüentavam o seguimento de puericultura e pediatria de um Centro de Saúde Escola, situado na zona oeste da cidade de São Paulo. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevista e observação do contexto, cuja análise permitiu compreender a experiência materna do fenômeno CONVIVENDO COM UM FILHO COM CÓLICA e a categoria central revelou-se como APRENDENDO A LIDAR COM A CÓLICA DO FILHO. O modelo teórico mostra que ter um filho com cólica é uma vivência angustiante e independe de ser mãe de primeiro filho. A compreensão da experiência materna de conviver com um filho acometido de cólica aponta para a necessidade dos profissionais reverem as práticas implementadas no manejo da cólica infantil. O acompanhamento do binômio mãe-filho por meio de atendimento de seguimento no mínimo até o terceiro mês de vida do bebê, incluindo atendimentos domiciliares e a promoção de estratégias de apoio implementadas pelos serviços de saúde podem contribuir para o estabelecimento saudável do vínculo mãe-filho. / The infantile colic, which is characterized by excessive and disconsolate baby’s cry, is a common problem during the initial period of life. It causes the mothers\' distress and worry. Although it is a common manifestation, its cause is still unknown. Then, considering these babies’ mothers’ needs and difficulties, it is necessary to propose an intervention while assisting them, in order to help them to face and overcome the problem. The aim of this study was to understand the experience of the mothers who had a baby with colic during the early period of life. The Theory Based on the Data was the qualitative approach used and the Symbolic Interaction was used as the theoretical reference to analyze and interpret the data. The method used to analyze the content was based on 12 speeches given by mothers who have or had their babies with colic during the initial period of life. These mothers attended the puerile and pediatric segment of a School Health Center located in the west zone of São Paulo city. The data were collected by interviews and observation of the context. The data analysis allowed the understanding of the maternal experience and the phenomenon is LIVING WITH A CHILD WHO HAS COLIC and the central category is LEARNING TO DEAL WITH THE CHILD’S COLIC. The theoretical model shows that having a baby with colic is a distressful experience and it does not matter if it is the mother’s first child or not. The understanding of the mother’s experience who has a child with colic points out that the professionals need to check the practices used while dealing with a child who has colic. The process of following the binomial mother-son by giving them assistance at least until the baby’s third month of life, including homecare and the promotion of supporting strategies implemented by the health services and contributing to the healthy establishment of the mother-child bond.

Introduction and rationale: Clinical experience with infants presenting with feeding difficulties and increasing referrals of infants with colic led to this study. There is uncertainty whether the speechlanguage therapist should play a role in the management of this condition. Despite extensive clinical research into the multiple factors related to the condition, the etiology of infantile colic has not yet been established. Suck- swallow-breathing coordination (SSBC), which is key to successful feeding, has not yet been investigated as a factor in this condition. Goals: The goal of the study was to give a comprehensive description of the symptoms and the SSBC of a group of young infants with colic. Sub-goal 1 was to compile a list of symptoms based on a description by parents of infants with infantile colic, which could be used to compare symptoms of a group of infants with the condition to a group without the condition. Sub-goal 2 was to describe SSBC, in a group of infants with the condition, by conducting a clinical assessment. Sub-goal 3 was to compare SSBC in a group of infants with colic to a group without the condition of the same age. Method: A descriptive survey design and interview guide was used in Phase 1. The parents of 60 infants with colic participated in this study. A correlation research design (Phase 2) and the List of symptoms for Infantile Colic (compiled in Phase 1) as well as the Assessment Protocol for SSBC (compiled in Phase 2) were used. A new research group of 50 participants with infantile colic and a control group of 28 participants with the condition, whose ages correlated with those of the research group, was selected. An interview was conducted with the parents of all participants. SSBC was clinically assessed in all the participants. Results: Parental description of infantile colic resulted in a comprehensive list of 27 symptoms. Audible swallowing of air and a feeding duration of more than 20 minutes were described more by parents than found in the literature. Statistically significant differences were found when the postural control and SSBC of the research group were compared with the control group. The difficulties with SSBC differed across the age categories of the participants. Conclusion: The study indicated that infantile colic is related to a disturbance in postural control and components of SSBC, and infants with the condition have subtle feeding difficulties. The speech-language therapist therefore has a role to play in the clinical assessment of infantile colic and the development of treatment strategies. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / MA / Unrestricted

Spädbarnskolik är ett vanligt hälsoproblem. När ett barn lider av kolik är detta oftast påfrestande för barnets föräldrar. Dessa föräldrar upplever ofta oro, trötthet och en känsla av hjälplöshet, vilket kan påverka relationen mellan barnet och föräldrarna negativt och öka barnets skrikande. Känslor av frustration och ilska, vilka kan upplevas av trötta och stressade föräldrar, ökar risken för att föräldrar ska skaka eller ta hårt i barnet, vilket kan leda till att barn får allvarliga skador. BHV-sjuksköterskor är viktiga aktörer inom barnahälsovården och det är av stor vikt att de effektivt hjälper och stödjer föräldrar till barn med kolik. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilket stöd och vilken hjälp föräldrar till barn med kolik önskar sig från BHV-sjuksköterskor. Denna studie utfördes som en systematisk litteraturstudie. För studien valdes nio vetenskapliga artiklar ut. De utvalda artiklarna är från Sverige, Norge, USA och Sydafrika. Bland de utvalda artiklarna är sju artiklar med kvalitativ metod och två har utförts med blandad metod med kvalitativa intervjuer och deskriptiv statistik. Samtliga utvalda artiklar belyser föräldraperspektivet, med avseende på spädbarnskolik. Studiens resultat visar att förståelse och stöd från vårdpersonal har stor betydelse för föräldrar, för att de ska kunna klara av att hantera den svåra kolikperioden. Föräldrar önskar ofta att sjuksköterskor erbjuder systematisk rådgivning och systematisk uppföljning samt att barnets tillstånd undersöks noggrant. Flertalet föräldrar är även intresserade av att få information om metoder med bristande evidens. Det framgick i studien att sjuksköterskor kan misslyckas med att hjälpa familjer med kolik på grund av att sjuksköterskor kan se annorlunda på kolikproblemet än föräldrarna själva eller att föräldrar kan ifrågasätta sjuksköterskors kompetens vad gäller kolikhantering. Ett annat hinder kan vara att föräldrarnas förmåga att acceptera stöd kan vara försämrad på grund av bland annat social isolering. Resultaten av denna studie tyder även på att kolikdiagnosen kan upplevas både som positiv och negativ av föräldrar och att när spädbarnskolik ibland normaliseras av vårdpersonal kan detta upplevas som negativt av föräldrar. En viktig poäng som framgick i studien, är att föräldrar till barn med kolik har olika behov och kan uppskatta olika typer av stöd och av andra vårdinsatser. Utifrån studiens resultat är det viktigt att sjuksköterskor och annan vårdpersonal alltid lyssnar på föräldrar, bemöter föräldraperspektivet och anpassar alla vårdinsatser utifrån föräldrars individuella behov.