Said El-deib

NMC Royal Hospital ,AD, UAE

Abstract

The probiotic supplement had a strong overall impact on the microbiota composition, but the effect depended on the infant’s diet. Only breastfed infants showed the expected increase in bifidobacteria and reduction in Proteobacteria and Clostridia.

The gastrointestinal flora plays a complex and important role in the development of healthy immunologic and digestive function in children. Probiotics are safe in healthy children and effective in reducing the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and the duration of acute infectious diarrhea. Probiotics may also be effective in preventing acquired diarrheal infections, in reducing the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants, and in the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis. The exact strain or combination of strains most effective for common clinical indications has yet to be determined, but the exact strain used seems less important than whether an adequate dose is used (typically 5 to 10 billion CFUs per day or higher). Clinicians should familiarize themselves with the products available because there is a wide range in their quality.

Diarrhea is among the main causes of pediatric mortality . Probiotics have been shown to be beneficial in the management of acute diarrhea. Accordingly, the aim of this  study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of Bacillus clausii as an adjunct to standard therapy in  children with acute community-acquired diarrhea of viral origin or associated with antibiotic administration.

In this study, we tried to explore the effects of probiotics on the intestinal microbiota  different strains on the gut immunity and the wide diversity of uses and indications

Conclusions:

The vast majority of the published trials show a statistically significant benefit and moderate clinical benefit of a few, well-identified probiotic strains—mostly LactobacillusGG and S. boulardii—in the treatment of acute watery diarrhea, and particularly those due to rotavirus. Such a beneficial effect results, on average, in a reduction of diarrhea duration of approximately 1 day. The effect is strain-dependent and dose-dependent.

This study adds knowledge on the good safety profile and on the effectiveness of Bacillus clausii as an adjunct treatment for acute childhood diarrhea.