Probiotics in gastroenteritis in children: A systematic review

Abstract

Background and objectives: Gastroenteritis is the second leading cause of death among children worldwide. It is a preventable and treatable disease, yet it affects 3 to 5 million children and is the cause of approximately 10% of hospitalizations globally. This systematic review aims to identify the effectiveness of probiotics in treating acute gastroenteritis in children globally and also to provide results of quality research to healthcare-related communities about possible therapies of the condition. Methods: This study follows the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews of 29 quantitative studies conducted between 2014-2023. A quality appraisal of the selected studies was conducted using CADIMA and a rating scale of 0 to 3 based on a few predetermined criteria. Results: Sample sizes varied from 29 to 1811, with a median of 200. Globally, there are mixed findings about the roles and benefits of probiotics to treat acute gastroenteritis in children. This is possibly due to the type of probiotic, the type of disease, and treatment adherence. Conclusions: Findings from this systematic review suggest that probiotics play a crucial role in improving children’s health outcomes. Therefore, it is important to promote and implement the use of probiotic therapies in the treatment of acute gastroenteritis conditions in children. IMC J Med Sci. 2023; 17(2):010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.17.020 *Correspondence: Amal K. Mitra, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Jackson State University, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Drive, Room 216 Jackson, MS 39213, USA. E-mail: amal.k.mitra@jsums.edu