Incidence of Infantile Colic in Exclusive Breastfeeding vs Exclusive Formula Feeding vs Combination Feeding Infants in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi

Introduction: Infantile colic is one of the most common and distressing conditions experienced by infants and their parents Objective: To compare the incidence of infantile colic among infants exclusively breastfed, exclusively formula-fed, and combination-fed, and to evaluate the associated risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi during June 2024 December 2024. A total of 246 infants aged 1 to 6 months diagnosed with colic (based on Wessel’s criteria) were enrolled using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Feeding practices were categorized as exclusive breastfeeding, formula feeding, and combination feeding. Data on demographics, feeding patterns, colic characteristics, and maternal factors were collected through structured interviews.  Results: The incidence of colic was 20%, with the highest prevalence in exclusively formula-fed infants (30%), followed by combination-fed (24%) and exclusively breastfed infants (8%). Formula-fed infants had longer crying durations (mean: 4.0 ± 1.2 hours/day) and more frequent crying episodes (median: 5 episodes/week, IQR: 4–7) than breastfed infants. Associated symptoms such as gassiness and irritability were most common in the formula-fed group (70%). Maternal and socioeconomic factors were not significantly associated with colic incidence (p>0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that exclusive breastfeeding significantly reduces the incidence and severity of infantile colic compared to formula and combination feeding. Promoting breastfeeding and addressing challenges in formula feeding may help mitigate colic and improve infant well-being.