Respiratory infections in children have a major impact on families and on the society in general. The concerns about the increased antibiotic resistance have lead to an increased interest in alternative ways for controlling common childhood infections. Since prevention is better than cure, the use of probiotic bacteria to prevent these illnesses has been proposed. A study examines the effect of probiotic milk on diarrhoeal and respiratory infections in children.
Probiotic bacteria colonise the large intestine and provide many healthy benefits for the host. Many of these probiotics are lactic acid bacteria, such as lactobacillus but all probiotics do not have the same characteristics and benefits. To be effective a probiotic must be able to survive the acidic environment of the stomach and grow in the intestine, even in the presence of antibiotics and must also be safe.
The studies were carried out in 18-day care centres in Helsinki, Finland over a period of seven months. 571 healthy children aged between 1-6 years were divided into two groups for the study. Milk with and without lactobacilli was given and the average daily consumption of milk in both the groups was 260 ml. Background information on the family, their environment, the child's nutrition habits, and illnesses was collected. During the study, parents recorded any respiratory symptoms like fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, chest wheezes, earache and gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach ache in the children on a daily basis.
The studies found that the children belonging to the group given probiotic milk suffered comparatively less from respiratory infections and diarrhoea. Children receiving lactobacilli had fewer days of absence from the day care centres, suggesting that lactobacillus may lessen the severity of respiratory infections and other complications. The children in the lactobacillus group who were prescribed antibiotics for respiratory infections were also less.
Intake of probiotic milk products is an easy and acceptable method, with no adverse effects. However alternative programmes for preventing respiratory tract infections in children are needed. Though the studies show promise, more studies are needed.
BMJ ; June 2001, vol 322 : (7298)