Frequency of Utilization of Medical and Paramedical Care in Infants with Excessive Crying: Cross- Sectional Analysis and Parent Survey

Background Infants can present in the first year of life with excessive, recurrent crying without an apparent illness or failure to thrive. The excessive crying results in a wide variety of problems for infants, parents and health care service.Objectives This study aimed at evaluating how often parents of children with excessive crying seek help in the medical and paramedical health care system and which therapies are prescribed.Materials and methods This study uses data collected within KUNO Kids health study. Families who participated completed questionnaires 4 weeks after birth and answered questions which screened for excessive crying. Families whose child was screened positive completed an additional questionnaire on symptoms, parental management and health care utilization. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.Results We received 238 questionnaires from children with excessive crying, 105 fulfilled the modified Wessel criteria. Of these 37 children (36%) were seen by a pediatrician because of crying. 57 (55%) received medications by the pediatrician. 51 (49%) of the parents specified that they also used paramedical therapies due to crying or whining, most often osteopathy. 45 (43%) adapted their own nutrition or their child's nutrition.Conclusions Our study shows that parents experience problems in dealing excessive crying. Frequent consultations with pediatricians or use of paramedical therapies are common, demanding additional resources. The parents received different diagnoses for excessive crying. Available drugs like Simeticon, homeopathy or manual therapy are recommended and applied despite largely missing evidence.