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Therapeutics
Review: Lactobacillus is safe and effective for treating children with acute infectious diarrhoea

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebm.7.6.185

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    (2002) Pediatrics 109, 678; Van Niel CW, Feudtner C, Garrison MM, et al.. Lactobacillus therapy for acute infectious diarrhoea in children: a meta-analysis.. Apr;. :. –84..
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 QUESTION: In children with acute infectious diarrhoea (ID), is treatment with Lactobacillus safe and effective for improving clinical outcomes?

    Data sources

    Studies were identified by searching Medline, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, DARE, and CINAHL from 1966 to 2000, and AMED, MANTIS, the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Citation Index, and AltHealthWatch from 1985–2000. Search terms used were diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, or rotavirus combined with competitive inhibition, Lactobacillus, probiotic, yogurt, or yoghurt. Bibliographies of relevant papers were scanned, and key investigators were contacted.

    Study selection

    Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were selected if they involved Lactobacillus treatment of ID in children, clinical outcomes were reported, the treatment group received Lactobacillus and the control group received a suitable placebo, the Lactobacillus and control groups were indistinguishable, and data assessors were blinded to participant treatment group. Studies in which patients …

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    Footnotes

    • Source of funding: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

    • For correspondence: Dr C W Van Niel, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Email cvanniel{at}u.washington.edu.