Assessment of Prolonged Pain in Infants With Excessive Crying: the Role of Thermal Imaging

Assessment of Prolonged Pain in Infants With Excessive Crying: the Role of Thermal Imaging - A Pilot Study

This study aims to propose a clinical assessment of chronic pain in infants using thermal imaging, by comparing the results of a validated behavioral scale (the EDIN) and a stress biomarker (salivary cortisol levels) with systematic thermal images of the body and face.

Inclusion criteria:

• Infants between 3 and 9 weeks post-term (SPT) in corrected age.
• Meeting the ROME IV criteria for infant colic.
• With crying episodes lasting > 3 hours per day for more than 3 days during the week preceding the evaluation (modified Weissel criteria).
• No known neurological or gastrointestinal pathology.
• Consent from legal guardians.
• Infants between 3 and 9 weeks post-term (SPT) in corrected age whose daily crying is less than 2 hours per day
• Consent from legal guardians.

Exclusion criteria:

• Confirmed brain lesions (ultrasound/MRI).
• Major congenital or chromosomal abnormalities.
• Stunted growth and weight gain.
• Born before 37 weeks' gestational age.
• Legal guardians who do not speak French.
• Lack of consent from legal guardians.