Probiotics Use in Childhood Acute Diarrhea: A Web-based Survey
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 04/11/2011
Weizman Z - Many pediatric gastroenterologists worldwide do not use probiotics for acute diarrhea owing to lack of appropriate guidelines and/or poorly designed products. Therefore, worldwide health authorities should provide pharmaceutical and clinical guidelines for the appropriate use of probiotics in acute diarrhea of childhood.
Methods- A web-based 9-item survey among 1854 pediatric gastroenterologists worldwide.
- Only 634 (34%) responded. 41 were excluded owing to incomplete data.
- Finally 593, USA (n=407) and non-USA (n=186) participants, showed: limited use in acute diarrhea, prescription of a 1 strain product only by 31% and 24%, respectively, and limited utilization in ambulatory settings and in prevention of diarrhea.
- Most participants felt there is lack of useful clinical guidelines, and found this therapy effective or very effective.
- Dosing and duration were extremely variable, the youngest age treated ranged from 2 months to 2 years of age, and adverse effects were extremely rare.
- These characteristics were shared by USA and by non-USA participants, with no significant differences between groups.
