EFFICACY OF A MIXTURE OF SIMETHICONE AND TYNDALLIZED BACILLUS COAGULANS IN INFANT COLIC: A PILOT STUDY

: A pilot study was conducted on a group of 41 infants with diagnosis of Infant Colic according to Rome IV criteria. We administered to all the enrolled infants a mixture of Tyndallized bacillus coagulans and Simethicone for 28 days. The primary outcome was the mean infant crying duration at 28th day. The secondary outcome was the improvement in the quality of sleep and infants' and parents' quality of life

This pilot study is a prospective study coordinated by the Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples "Federico II", whereas infants were recruited by 8 general pediatricians belonging to the Pediatrics Investigator Committee of Campania Region, Italy. Inclusion criteria were: full term infants (\>_37 weeks gestation at birth; 5-min Apgar score \>_7; Birth weight \>_2500 g), aged \<12 months, diagnosed with IC according to Rome IV criteria \[1\], breast- and formulafed infants. The parents of the infants participating in the study were supplied with the mixture of Tyndallized B. Coagulans and Simethicone. The Institutional Review Board of Campania 3 approved the research protocol. All parents gave written informed consent. Enrolled infants were treated for 28 days with a mixture of Tyndallized B. Coagulans and Simethicone: 20 drops, four times a day. At enrolment, clinical and dietary history, obstetrical data and anthropometry were recorded. The subjects were classified as having IC based on their parents' responses to the validated questionnaires regarding IC according to Rome IV criteria. The parents were also asked to fill in the following questionnaires: 1) Baby's Day Diary on daily crying and infant sleep duration \[21\]; 2) a scale (visual analogue scale, VAS, 0e10) for parents' quality of life, a questionnaire on infant's quality of life; 3) a form for stool frequency and consistency; 4) a scale for parental perception of colic severity (VAS 0e10) and 5) a scale for parental perception of sleep quality (VAS 0 e10). Infants were evaluated by a physician for follow-up visits at week 4. During the visits, physical examination was performed and information regarding drugs administration, number and site of infections and eventual adverse medical events were recorded. Moreover, parents had to fill: 3) the questionnaire on infant's quality of life; 4) a review of stool frequency and consistency; 5) the parental perception of colic severity (VAS 0e10) and 6) the parental perception of sleep quality (VAS 0e10). All the authors had access to the study data. Compliance was assessed by evaluating the diary provided by the parents.

Outcomes The primary endpoint was the infant crying duration at 28 days. Treatment success was defined as at least 50% reduction in crying time from baseline to day 28 postintervention. Secondary endpoints included: infant sleep duration at 28 days post-intervention, mean scores on a standardized measure of parents' and infants' quality of life, changes in stool consistency, number of episodes of infant colic per day, parental perception of colic severity (VAS 0-10), parental perception of quality of life (VAS0-10).

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

- Inclusion criteria were: full term infants (\>_37 weeks gestation at birth; 5-min Apgar score \>_7; Birth weight \>_2500 g), aged \<12 months, diagnosed with IC according to Rome IV criteria \[1\], breast- and formulafed infants.

Exclusion Criteria:

-