Does H. Pylori Bacteria Cause Colic?

New research suggests a possible link.

A small study conducted in rural Gizan, Saudi Arabia, tested 55 patients with infant colic. Of the 55 infants, who were between the ages of 2 weeks and 4 months, 45 (almost 82%) tested positive for H. Pylori.

In case you’ve never had the misfortune of being personally affected by this sinister bug, it’s a bacteria found in the stomach which can cause ulcers and gastritis. If you’ve suffered from severe morning sickness (Hyperemesis Gravidarum), ulcers, or miscellaneous stomach troubles, you’ve likely been tested for this bacteria as it can cause *wicked* nausea and stomach aches.

I’m personally not holding my breath – It seems unlikely to me that H. Pylori would suddenly strike at 3 weeks of age and disappear at 3 months. And in the control group for this study, 20% of ‘healthy’, non-colicky babies tested positive for the bacteria. Why weren’t they afflicted with colic?

That said, how great would it be if it was a simple bacteria that caused colic?

The conclusion of the study:

“The study is unable to tell if this relationship is causal. Indeed, it does not even determine with any assurance what the mechanism between H pylori and colic is. Regardless, it is a somewhat striking and interesting result. Future work could examine if treating H pylori might alleviate colic, or if prevention might work to stop it from developing at all.”