Colic Explained

Colic or cholic ^[1] is a form of pain that starts and stops abruptly. It occurs due to muscular contractions of a hollow tube (small and large intestine, gall bladder, ureter, etc.) in an attempt to relieve an obstruction by forcing content out. It may be accompanied by sweating and vomiting.^[2] Types include:

Baby colic, a condition, usually in infants, characterized by incessant crying
Biliary colic, blockage by a gallstone of the common bile duct or cystic duct
Devon colic or painter's colic, a condition caused by lead poisoning
Horse colic, a potentially fatal condition experienced by horses, caused by intestinal displacement or blockage
Renal colic, a pain in the flank, characteristic of kidney stones

The term is .

Notes and References