Tools assessment and diagnosis to infant colic: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Infant colic occurs between 10% and 40% of healthy born children in their first year of life. Its assessment is complex, and there are only a few instruments of appraisement and diagnosis.

Methods: Scientific articles located through a systematic review using the Pubmed, Scopus, Cochrane, PEDro, Dialnet, IME and Dialnet databases. Two researchers obtained data independently from relevant studies previously identified. Risk of bias was assessed according to the methods recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration, with reporting following the preferred reported items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines and evaluating their methodological quality based on the EMPRO scale.

Results: Four tools were obtained for valuation of infant colic. Parental diary of infant cry and fuss behaviour, Crying Pattern Questionnaire, Infant Colic Scale and, lastly, a validity of the Turkish version of the Infant Colic Scale.

Conclusions: Analysis of the existing tools involves the need to design and validate new assessment scales for this clinical frame.

Keywords: assessment; diagnostic tool; excessively crying; infantile colic; reliability; validity.