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Colic
Colic is severe abdominal pain and can be a symptom of several different diseases. It occurs in the muscular lining of the intestine, which contracts in short irregular spasms. It can be caused by infection, something blocking the path of the intestine, irritating food or some forms of medication.
Doctors are still unsure what causes colic in infants, although it is commonly believed to be build up of gas or incomplete digestion. Colic can also occur in the renal passage when a stone (or calculus) from the kidney is passed through the ureter into the urinary bladder. Biliary colic occurs when a gallstone passes from the gall bladder into the bile duct, irritating and blocking the bile duct.
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Bibliography
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th Edition. (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1986)
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Volume 7. (Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1970)
The Book of Popular Science Encyclopaedia. (New York: Grolier, 1961)
The Software Toolworks Multimedia Encyclopaedia, Release 6. (New York: Grolier, 1996)
Encarta 96 Encyclopaedia. (Redmond: Microsoft, 1996)
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