Intestinal colic: symptoms, causes and how to relieve it

Intestinal colic is moderate to severe pain that can be caused by excess gas, diarrhea or a chronic intestinal condition, such as Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel.

Furthermore, intestinal colic can be caused by food intolerance, or even infections in the intestine, such as gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel diseases or appendicitis, and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, blood in the stool or excessive tiredness.

Intestinal colic may disappear without the need for treatment, it is only advisable to rest, avoid eating fatty and sugar-rich foods and drink lots of water. However, when colic is very intense or lasts for more than 2 days, it is recommended to see a general practitioner or gastroenterologist to identify the cause and begin appropriate treatment.

Symptoms of intestinal colic

The main symptoms of intestinal colic are:

• Abdominal pain and discomfort;
• hard belly;
• Excess gases;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Swollen belly;
• Excessive tiredness;
• Diarrhea;
• Mucus or blood in the stool;
• Fever;
• Weight loss.

Symptoms of intestinal colic can be temporary or long-lasting and more or less intense depending on their cause.

What to do

In general, it is not necessary to consult a doctor in case of intestinal colic. However, if the symptoms are persistent or prevent daily activities from being carried out, it is recommended that a gastroenterologist be consulted so that the symptoms can be assessed and the cause identified.

To confirm the cause, imaging and laboratory tests may be indicated, and food tests may also be recommended to check whether intestinal colic is related to intolerance to a food group.

Make an appointment with your nearest gastroenterologist to investigate the cause of your symptoms:

Possible causes

Intestinal colic can be caused by any situation that causes irritation in the gastrointestinal tract and leads to increased gas production and/or local inflammation. Thus, it may be related to food intolerance or allergy, consumption of foods that increase gas production, such as cabbage, beans and soft drinks, for example, or be a consequence of diarrhea or constipation.

Furthermore, intestinal colic can be one of the signs of more serious situations, such as intestinal infection, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, diverticulosis, intestinal obstruction or appendicitis, for example. Therefore, it is important that in the presence of persistent and/or recurrent symptoms, the doctor is consulted so that an investigation can be carried out into the cause of intestinal colic.

How to relieve

Mild intestinal colic can be relieved with simple measures or lifestyle changes such as:

• Rest;
• Maintain oral hydration with water or homemade serum, either homemade or purchased ready-made at the pharmacy;
• Use a hot water bottle on your stomach;
• Drink chamomile tea or peppermint tea to help eliminate intestinal gas;
• Avoid fatty or sugar-rich foods;
• Avoid foods that increase gas production, such as broccoli, cabbage, beans or soft drinks;

Furthermore, in cases of food intolerance or allergy, it is important to avoid the food associated with the intolerance, however, in some cases it is possible to replace the missing enzyme or reduce the amount consumed, as advised by the doctor or nutritionist.

In cases of moderate or severe colic, which does not improve within 2 days, or which starts suddenly, you should consult your general practitioner or gastroenterologist for treatment based on what caused the intestinal colic, including antibiotics, probiotics or antidepressants, for example. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe medications to help relieve pain and discomfort, such as antispasmodics or analgesics.

Check out some home remedy options for intestinal colic.