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Aim: To assess the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and behavioural problems in a cohort of adolescents with a history of infant colic (IC), as defined by Wessel's criteria. Methods: 388 adolescents, aged 15–18 years, who participated in a randomised controlled trial for infants with colic, were invited for our observational follow-up study. Prevalence of FGIDs was assessed with the Rome IV Questionnaire on Paediatric Gastrointestinal Disorders (RIV-QPGD), HRQOL through self-report of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and behavioural problems through parent-report of the child behaviour checklist (CBCL). Multivariable models were used to compare prevalence rates of FGIDs and HRQOL scores. Results: 190 (49%) adolescents with a history of IC (cases) and 381 controls were included (median age 17.0 [IQR 16.0–17.0] and 16.0 [15.0–17.0] years, respectively). Cases had a significantly higher risk for postprandial distress syndrome compared to controls (aOR 2.49 (95%CI 1.18–5.25), p = 0.002). After multivariable regression, total, physical and school HRQOL scores were significantly lower in cases compared to controls (p = 0.003, 0.001, and 0.009). Conclusion: Adolescents with a history of IC demonstrate higher prevalence rates of postprandial distress syndrome compared to controls. However, conclusions should be made with caution due to attrition and information bias.

Aim: To assess whether infants with colic (IC) demonstrate persisting developmental dysregulation into childhood, manifested as behavioural problems, and to determine if these behavioural problems are associated with parenting factors. Methods: Preschool children with a history of IC at the age of 0–3 months, as defined by the Wessel criteria, were invited to participate in an observational follow-up study, in which their caregivers completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Raw scores and clinical-range scores on the internalising, externalising and total behavioural problems scales were compared with a Dutch normative sample using independent t-tests and Chi-square tests. For the clinical-range scores, multivariable logistic regressions (odds ratios [99% confidence interval, CI]) were used to adjust for confounders and to identify variables associated with behavioural problems. Results: Two hundred and fifty-eight children with a history of IC (median age 5.1 (interquartile range, IQR 4.6–5.5) years, 51.9% boys) were included. The cases had a significantly higher adjusted risk (adjusted odds ratios (aORs) [99% CI]) of scoring in the clinical range of the emotionally reactive, internalising and total problems scale (2.96 [1.24–7.06]; 2.50 [1.35–4.62]; 2.98 [1.46-6.07], respectively). Internalising (P < 0.001), externalising (P < 0.001) and total (P < 0.001) behavioural problems in children with a history of IC were associated with higher parenting stress scores. Conclusions: Children with a history of IC demonstrated significantly more internalising behavioural problems at preschool age compared to the norm sample. Specific advice and support need to be available for parents to understand and regulate the behaviour of their child, from infancy to childhood.