Purpose To explore the association between infantile colic and adolescent migraine.

Method In a randomized general population sample, families expecting their first child were prospectively followed for infantile colic and adolescent migraine.

Results Colic was diagnosed in 160 (13%) of 1267 infants until the age of 3 months. Migraine was ascertained in 129 (16%) of 787 adolescents at age 18 years. History of infantile colic was identified in 96 (12%) of 787 adolescents and no such history in 658 (88%) of 787 adolescents. Migraine was present in 22 (23%)/96 adolescents who had a history of infantile colic, but in only 74 (11%)/658 ones who had no such history. Of the 22 adolescents, 14 (64%) had migraine without aura and eight (36%) had migraine with aura. Infants with colic had an almost three-fold risk (risk ratio 2.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2–6.5) for adolescent migraine without aura, but no increased risk for migraine with aura (0.8, 0.3–2.2).

Discussion and conclusions Infantile colic seems to be associated with an increased risk for migraine without aura, but not for migraine with aura. Whether infantile colic per se is a type of infantile migraine or an antecedent of future migraine remains to be answered by further research.