COLIC

in medicine, any paroxysmal pain; the term is usually restricted to a pain produced by the contraction of the muscular walls of any hollow organ, such as the renal pelvis or the biliary tract, of which the aperture has become more or less blocked, temporarily or otherwise. In infants, usually those who are bottle-fed, intestinal colic is common and is shown by the drawing up of the infant's legs, restlessness, and continuous crying. Colic may accompany any form of enteritis or an intestinal malignant growth, as well as certain forms of influenza. Colic caused by spastic contractions of the bowel is a common symptom of lead poisoning. Treatment for colic is aimed at relief of symptoms and often includes the administration of a muscle relaxant such as atropine and, occasionally, meperidine hydrochloride (marketed as Demerol).