Summary: In the first month of life, healthy infants may start feeling an intense pain and stomach cramping, which may disappear a few months later. Researchers at Radboud University and Wageningen University, in the Netherlands, now say, different types of microbes inhabiting the babies' intestines are the explanation to these severe pains. In order to deduce the solution to this colic problem, scientists collected nine stool samples from each of twelve colicky babies and twelve age-matched babies without colic over their first 100 days of life. The mothers and their babies were all healthy. However as early as the first weeks of the experiment, the researchers found significant differences in the intestinal microbes of colicky and noncolicky infants. The scientists noticed, those babies with colic had more proteobacteria, which includes species that produce gas and inflammation. To decrease symptoms of colic, researchers suggest taking probiotic supplements, which contain beneficial bacteria and sometimes decrease symptoms and work by displacing harmful bacteria. Although it is established that probiotics eliminate most symptoms, doctors suggests it is unhealthy to routinely give probiotics to infants. Scientists need to preform controlled studies first, to determine if there are casual effects and if they are safe.
Relevance: This article is relevant to our curriculum since we have studied a full unit on microbes. Special microbes live in infants' intestines, causing colic symptoms, or very bad stomach aches and cramps. We studied how specifically, microbes can adapt to live on some of the most extreme environments on earth. A baby's intestines is an example of a very extreme environment. The article talks about microbes' effect on its host and its possible habitats.
Microbes Linked to Colic in Babies
By: Nicholas Bakalar
January 21, 2013
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/21/microbes-linked-to-colic-in-babies/
Is colic a hereditary disease? If not, how is colic acquired by these babies at such a young age?
ReplyDeleteWhile colic hasn't been proven to be or not to be a hereditary disease, there is a slightly increased chance of family tendency. However, whether colic is inherited or not has yet to be proven. If colic is in fact not hereditary, it is usually seen as an allergic reaction to breast milk or certain formulas that the infants are fed. Also, stress is believed to be a big factor in colicky symptoms.
ReplyDeleteWhy do the symptoms dissipate after a few months, do the proteobacteria become displaced naturally?
ReplyDelete