Infant Health and Development

Infantile colic — characterized by prolonged, unexplained crying in otherwise healthy newborns — sits at the intersection of pediatric pharmacology, gastroenterology, and developmental psychology, with researchers working to understand both its physiological roots and its ripple effects on family wellbeing. Evidence points to disruptions in gut microbiota as a likely contributor, which has driven growing clinical interest in probiotic interventions, particularly *Lactobacillus reuteri*, as a way to reduce crying duration and frequency. At the same time, cry acoustics are being studied as a diagnostic signal, with automated analysis tools probing whether the acoustic properties of an infant's cry can reliably distinguish gastrointestinal distress from other regulatory problems. Open questions remain about why some parents — particularly mothers — experience lasting stress and anxiety responses that persist well beyond the colic period, and whether early pharmaceutical or behavioral support for caregivers should be considered part of standard treatment.

Works

49,226

Total citations

398,168

Keywords

Infant CryingColicProbioticsMaternal ResponseGastrointestinal DisordersRegulatory Problems