Colicky no more

There is a new treatment for babies with colic.

New-born babies are seen at a hospital in Hefei, Anhui province on Aug 8, 2008, the opening day of Beijing Olympics. – REUTERS

FUSSY, irritable babies can now be a thing of the past – a new treatment in the form of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) is believed to effectively reduce colic in newborns by as much as 40%. In a recent media forum on colic management, Filipino paediatric gastroenterologist Dr Jossie Rogacion highlighted the effectiveness of L. reuteri in addressing gastrointestinal problems in babies, which if left untreated, can lead to a higher risk of abdominal pain and sleep problems later on in life.