In children with infantile colic, probiotics do not seem to reduce the duration of crying

The clinical scenario of a baby with infant colic is described. The parents ask if a compound of probiotics could be of help. The pediatrician produces a structured clinical question and then a bibliographic search where he finds two articles of interest for this question. These papers conclude that Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), compared to simethicone or placebo, seems effective in reducing the hours of crying in children with infantile colic (IC). But the pediatrician, after doing the critical appraisal concludes that the methodological limitations of the reviewed studies do not allow currently a strong recommendation on giving preparations of L. reuteri as a treatment for IC. It is recommended to provide information to parents on the IC in order to reassure them about their evolution. Appropriate advice provided by a health professional is effective in reducing infant clinical symptoms.