colicky

Colicky refers to severe, often intermittent abdominal pain that is typically caused by spasmodic contractions of the gastrointestinal tract. The term is most commonly used in reference to infant colic, a condition affecting babies during the first few months of life, but it also describes similar pain patterns in adults, such as colicky renal or biliary pain.

In infants, colic is defined by the “rule of three”: crying for more than three hours a day, on more than three days a week, for at least three weeks, without an identifiable medical cause. The crying episodes are usually intense, occur in the late evening, and may be accompanied by clenched fists, arched back, and leg drawing up. The exact etiology remains uncertain; proposed factors include gastrointestinal immaturity, gas accumulation, altered gut microbiota, hypersensitivity to stimuli, and parental stress. Diagnosis is one of exclusion, requiring assessment for feeding problems, infection, metabolic disorders, or anatomical abnormalities.

In adults, colicky pain arises from intermittent obstruction or spasm of hollow organs. Common sources are gallstones (biliary colic), kidney stones (renal colic), and intestinal obstruction. The pain is characteristically sharp, comes in waves, and is often localized to the organ’s region. Relief may occur when the obstruction moves or the spasm ceases.

Management of infant colic focuses on parental support and reassurance, as the condition is self‑limiting. Strategies may include soothing techniques, dietary adjustments for breast‑feeding mothers, and probiotic supplementation, though evidence for specific interventions is limited. For colicky pain in adults, treatment targets the underlying cause—analgesics, antispasmodics, hydration, and, when indicated, surgical removal of stones or relief of obstruction.

Prognosis for infant colic is generally excellent, with most infants outgrowing the condition by four to six months. In adults, resolution depends on successful treatment of the precipitating pathology.