Effects of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Infant Colic

Effects of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Infant Colic: A Prospective Multi-center Single Blinded Randomized Controlled Study

Standardized acupuncture treatment for infant colic is a common treatment in general practice for doctors educated in medical acupuncture.

The investigators plan to study whether the perceived opinion on positive results can be verified in a multi-center clinical trial. The investigators aim to measure the effect of standardized acupuncture treatment, three repeated sessions, on infant colic in a randomized singe blinded prospective multi-center study, starting September 2009. The study will be done in thirteen locations in Norway by specialists in General Practice trained in acupuncture.

The investigators intend to include a total of 130 patients, 65 in the intervention group and 65 in the control group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Infants under 3 months of age with birth weight over 2500 g and/or over 36th week of gestation.
• Further fulfilling Wessel et al criteria for infant colic: "Paroxystic uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy child under 3 months of age, and with more than 3 hours of crying per day for more than 3 days a week for more than 3 weeks."

Exclusion Criteria:

• Infants over 3 months of age with birth weight under 2500 g and/or under 36th week of gestation.
• Not fulfilling Wessel et al criteria for infant colic: "Paroxystic uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy child under 3 months of age, and with more than 3 hours of crying pr.day for more than 3 days a week for more than 3 weeks."