Associations of Infant Colic and Excessive Crying With Atopic Outcomes in Childhood and Adolescence.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the extent to which risks of atopic and respiratory conditions throughout childhood and adolescence differ by history of (1) infant colic, characterized by apparent abdominal discomfort and unsoothable crying, (2) excessive crying without colic, or (3) neither condition.

STUDY DESIGN

Among 1249 children participating in the prospective, unselected Project Viva cohort, we examined associations of history of infant colic or excessive crying without colic with risks of eczema, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and respiratory infections, measured in toddlerhood, early childhood, mid-childhood, early adolescence, and mid-adolescence using multinomial logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The study sample was 50% female and 71% non-Hispanic White; 26% had colic and 9% excessive crying. Children with colic (vs no colic or excessive crying) had higher risk of eczema (relative risk ratio [RRR], 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.8), allergic rhinitis (RRR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4), and asthma (RRR, 1.6; 95% CI,1.1-2.4) in mid-childhood, and a higher risk of respiratory infections in toddlerhood (RRR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2) and mid-adolescence (RRR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2, 3.7). The risk of 2-3 concurrent atopic conditions (eczema, allergic rhinitis, and/or asthma) was nearly twice that among the colic group (vs unaffected) at all life stages. The group with excessive crying without colic did not have increased risk of atopic and respiratory outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Colic characterized by unsoothable crying and parent perceptions of abdominal distress may be an early marker of atopic susceptibility.