Abstract | BACKGROUND: Acute diarrhea is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Oral rehydration salts ( ORS) have lowered mortality without having an effect on the duration or severity of diarrhea. Some studies have reported that heat-killed Lactobacillus bacteria have a beneficial effect in the treatment of acute diarrhea. In this placebo-controlled study the duration of diarrhea was compared for 2 types of treatment: Lactobacillus LB ( Lacteol) in association with oral rehydration and oral rehydration alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 nondehydrated children between the ages of 3 months and 4 years with acute watery diarrhea were randomly assigned to be treated with Lactobacillus LB or placebo plus ORS. The primary endpoint was the duration of diarrhea; intake of ORS and change in body weight between the time of randomization and the last assessment were also measured. RESULTS: In 71 of the 80 patients, diarrhea was resolved: 36 in the Lactobacillus LB group and 35 in the placebo group. Several clinical characteristics of the 2 treatment groups were comparable at baseline. Median duration of diarrhea was 16.6 hours in the placebo group compared with 10.0 hours in the Lactobacillus LB group (P = 0.275). In the subgroup with a duration of diarrhea of more than 24 hours at inclusion, duration of diarrhea measured from that point was shorter for the Lactobacillus LB group (30.4 h vs 8.2 h; P = 0.044). ORS intake was similar for both groups. Lactobacillus LB was well tolerated, with only one patient experiencing an adverse effect. CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacillus LB is an effective and safe treatment for children with well-established diarrhea (>24 h).
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Authors | Eduardo Salazar-Lindo, Dante Figueroa-Quintanilla, Maria Isabel Caciano, Victoria Reto-Valiente, Gilles Chauviere, Patrick Colin, Lacteol Study Group |
Journal | Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
(J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr)
Vol. 44
Issue 5
Pg. 571-6
(May 2007)
ISSN: 1536-4801 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 17460488
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase III, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Drug Combinations
- Lacteol
- Calcium Carbonate
- Lactose
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Topics |
- Acute Disease
- Calcium Carbonate
(therapeutic use)
- Child, Preschool
- Diarrhea
(therapy)
- Double-Blind Method
- Drug Combinations
- Feces
(virology)
- Female
- Fluid Therapy
- Humans
- Infant
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactose
(therapeutic use)
- Male
- Treatment Outcome
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