Oral hypertonic glucose solution in the treatment of infantile colic

Abstract

Background: Safe and effective treatment of infantile colic (IC) has not yet been determined. In this study, the authors aimed to investigate the efficiency of 30% glucose solution in the treatment of IC.

Methods: A total of 25 infants diagnosed as typical IC were given 1 mL of 30% glucose solution or sterile water for 4 days consecutively, in a randomized, double blind crossover trial. The effect was measured by parents' scoring.

Results: Parents reported varying degrees of improvement in 16 infants (64%) given glucose solution, and in 12 infants (48%) given placebo. Comparison of treatment modalities were statistically significant (P = 0.031). There was no side-effect during treatments.

Conclusion: The present study revealed that 30% glucose was effective in the treatment of IC. Since oral glucose solution is natural, safe, cheap and easily achievable, it might be considered as an alternative therapy.