Role of Probiotic in the Management of Acute Watery Diarrhoea in Children: A Single Center Study in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Diarrhoeal disease in childhood accounts for a large proportion (18%) of childhood deaths, making it the second most common cause of child deaths worldwide. Probiotics have preventive as well as curative effects on several types of diarrhoea of different etiologies. The objectives of the study were to determine the role of probiotics in the management of acute watery diarrhoea in children aged less than 5 years.

Materials and methods: This prospective comparative study was carried out in the pediatrics department in TMSS (Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha) Medical College and Rafatullah Community Hospital, Bogura for one year from January to December 2024. Study population was 100 children with acute diarrhoea aged 1 month to 5 years. They were divided into two groups. Fifty (50) children were included in probiotics group (Group A) and the rest fifty (50) were in without probiotics group (Group B). All the cases were assessed daily for decrease in frequency of stool and total duration of illness at discharge.

Results: Mean age at the time of admission was 17.72 ± 4.89 months for the group A and 10.37 ± 15.68 months for the group B. Frequency of stools per day at admission was 2.58 ± 0.64 with the range of 2-4 stools/day for the group A and 2.08 ± 15.68 with the range of 1-4 stools/day for the group B. Most of the cases of this study had some sign of dehydration followed by severe sign of dehydration. The mean duration of hospital stay of group A was 2.7 days and in group B 3.4 days. The mean duration of hospital stay was significantly less in group A (Probiotics group).

Conclusion: Treatment with probiotics along side conventional therapy led to a reduction in the duration of diarrhea and a shorter hospital stay.

Journal of Brahmanbaria Med. Coll. Volume 07 Issue 01 Jan 2025 ; 20-24