Renal disease presenting as severe unremitting colic.

We made a retrospective study of 1770 infants with colic. Of these infants 206 were classified as having severe colic. Six of the infants with severe colic failed to respond to intensive behaviour management and were found to have urinary infection. Later investigation revealed that all six had significant renal disease. We recommend that all infants with colic who do not respond rapidly to conventional management be investigated for urinary tract infections.