RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Role of probiotics in attenuation of acute respiratory tract infections in preschool and primary school children
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P2952
VO 40
IS Suppl 56
A1 Sergei Gerasimov
A1 Orysya Cycura
YR 2012
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P2952.abstract
AB Background. Probiotics have been shown to reduce incidence, duration and symptom scores of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI).Objective. To study a potential of probiotics in prevention of ARTI in children.Materials and Methods. 96 otherwise healthy children aged 3-12 years closely contacted to a household with ARTI were randomized to receive 1 g of a powder containing 5 billion CFU of L. acidophilus DDS-1, B. lactis and 50 mg fructooligosaccharide (DDS Junior, UAS Laboratories) (group I, n=48) or rice maltodextrine powder (group II, n=48) once daily for 30 days. During one-month follow-up, we recorded incidence, duration, and clinical course of ARTI using Canadian acute respiratory illness and flu scale (CARIFS).Results. At baseline groups I and II were comparable on age, number of social contacts, history of attending daycare/school, and history of previous ARTI. 85% (n=41) of children in the group I and 90% (n=43) in the group II developed ARTI (p=0.368). In sick children at group I 50% clinical recovery from baseline value of CARIFS occurred on day 6.2(1.9), while in the group II on day 7.2(2.1) (p=0.025). For the group I return to normal health was observed on day 8.5(3.3) vs 10.7(3.9) in the group II (p=0.007). In the group I nasal decongestants, throat preparations, and antipyretics were used for a shorter course than in the group II (2.3(1.2) vs 3.2(1.7) p=0.007; 1.9(1.1) vs 2.5(1.6) p=0.046; 2.7(1.2) vs 3.5(1.5) p=0.009, respectively).Conclusions. At tendency toward prophylactic potential in limitation of household spread, probiotics have a clear attenuating effect on the clinical course of ARTI in young children and shorten use of flu/cold drugs.