Definition

Noun: - Acute abdominal pain: A specific medical term for severe, cramping pain localized in the abdomen. This condition is particularly associated with infants.

Usage

The term "intestinal colic" is used primarily in medical or clinical contexts to describe a specific type of severe abdominal pain originating from the intestines. It is most famously applied to otherwise healthy infants who experience frequent, prolonged periods of intense crying and signs of abdominal discomfort.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The pediatrician diagnosed the baby's persistent crying as a case of intestinal colic.
  • Symptoms of intestinal colic in infants often include clenched fists and drawn-up legs.

Advanced Usage

• "infantile intestinal colic": A more precise term often used interchangeably with "intestinal colic" to specify its occurrence in babies.
  • The guidelines for managing infantile intestinal colic focus on comforting techniques.

Variants and Related Words

• Colic (n): A more general term for acute, intermittent abdominal pain, which can originate from other organs like the kidneys (renal colic) or gallbladder (biliary colic).
  • The horse was suffering from colic, a common and serious condition in equines.
• Colicky (adj): Describing pain that is characteristic of or resembling colic, or an infant who has colic.
  • The colicky baby was soothed by gentle rocking.

Synonyms

• Gripe (archaic/noun): An old-fashioned term for sharp, gripping intestinal pain.
• Bellyache (informal/noun): A casual, non-medical term for abdominal pain.

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning of "intestinal colic" is acute abdominal pain. Its defining association with infants is a key aspect of its common usage, distinguishing it from other types of colic (e.g., renal colic). It describes the symptom (pain) rather than a specific disease.

Noun

1. acute abdominal pain (especially in infants)