The crying of an infant evokes emotions ranging from the need to respond, comfort, and protect; to annoyance, aversion, or even rage.<sup>18 Brazelton T.B. Crying in infancy Pediatrics 1962 ;  29 : 579

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 21 Carey W.B. Infantile colic: A pediatric practitioner-researcher's point of view Infant Mental Health Journal 1990 ;  11 : 334

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 29 Geertsma M.A., Hyams J.S. Colic—a pain syndrome of infancy? Pediatr Clin North Am 1989 ;  36 : 905

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 57 Murray A.D. Aversiveness is in the mind of the beholder: Perception of infant crying by adults Infant Crying—Theoretical and Research Perspectives New York: Plenum Press (1985).  217-237

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 63 Schmitt B.D. Colic: Excessive crying in newborns Clin Perinatol 1985 ;  12 : 441

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> The incidence of “excessive” crying ranges from 8% to 30% in the United States and was reported by Poole as the chief complaint for approximately 1 in every 400 visits to an urban pediatric emergency department (ED).<sup>20 Canivet C., Hagander B., Jakobsson I. , e al. Infantile colic—less common than previously estimated? Acta Paediatr 1996 ;  85 : 454

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 34 Hewson P., Oberklaid F., Menahem S. Infant colic, distress and crying Clin Pediatr 1987 ;  26 : 69

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 46 Lester B.M., Boukydis C.F.Z., Garcia-Coll C.T. , e al. Colic for developmentalists Infant Mental Health Journal 1990 ;  11 : 321

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 60 Poole S.R. The infant with acute, unexplained, excessive crying Pediatrics 1991 ;  88 : 450

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> The child presenting to the ED with persistent crying generally represents the endpoint of a caregiver's frustration and fear for the health of their very young and vulnerable child.<sup>13 Barr R.G., Rotman A., Yaremko J. , e al. The crying of infants with colic: A controlled empirical description Pediatrics 1992 ;  90 : 14

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 18 Brazelton T.B. Crying in infancy Pediatrics 1962 ;  29 : 579

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 19 Brazelton T.B. Crying and colic Infant Mental Health Journal 1990 ;  11 : 349

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 64 Schmitt B.D. The prevention of sleep problems and colic Pediatr Clin North Am 1986 ;  33 : 763

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> The parent often thinks that they have failed to meet the needs of his or her child and will seek medical care when the advice and counseling of friends and relatives is no longer effective or desired.<sup>18 Brazelton T.B. Crying in infancy Pediatrics 1962 ;  29 : 579

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 19 Brazelton T.B. Crying and colic Infant Mental Health Journal 1990 ;  11 : 349

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 21 Carey W.B. Infantile colic: A pediatric practitioner-researcher's point of view Infant Mental Health Journal 1990 ;  11 : 334

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 33 Heine R.G., Jaquiery A., Lubitz L. , e al. Irritability Arch Dis Child 1995 ;  73 : 121  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 43 Lehtonen L., Rautava P.T. Infantile colic: Natural history and treatment Curr Probl Pediatr 1996 ;  26 : 79

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 64 Schmitt B.D. The prevention of sleep problems and colic Pediatr Clin North Am 1986 ;  33 : 763

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Parents present looking not only for definitive diagnosis and reassurance that their baby is well but also for relief of both the child and themselves.<sup>18 Brazelton T.B. Crying in infancy Pediatrics 1962 ;  29 : 579

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 29 Geertsma M.A., Hyams J.S. Colic—a pain syndrome of infancy? Pediatr Clin North Am 1989 ;  36 : 905

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti, 43 Lehtonen L., Rautava P.T. Infantile colic: Natural history and treatment Curr Probl Pediatr 1996 ;  26 : 79

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> The crying infant also represents a challenge to the emergency physician to evaluate a disruptive, noncommunicative patient in obvious distress while effectively managing the anxious, fearful, and frustrated caregiver. Unfortunately, for the emergency physician seeking useful information when faced with the infant who has been “crying all night and just won't stop,” the literature addressing the question of infant crying generally focuses on specific cry characteristics or the investigation of infants with persistent, paroxysmal, and recurrent crying. In an attempt to provide a practical framework for this vexing problem, this review presents an approach to the crying infant with a brief discussion of current and previous cry research, followed by a differential diagnosis and recommendations for evaluation and management of this chief complaint.