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Date of Award
Spring 2021
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Kevin Basile, MD, PT
Abstract
Introduction: Diarrhea, defined as 3 or more loose watery stools per day, ranges from a nuisance in the developing world to a life-threatening condition in developing countries. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death of children under 5 worldwide. Standard treatment is administration of an oral rehydration solution (ORS), with zinc supplementation added to this treatment in developing countries. Recent studies propose potential for the addition of probiotic supplementation to this established standard. This paper examines the efficacy of probiotic supplementation in reducing diarrhea duration when compared to traditional treatment of oral rehydration in healthy pediatric patients (under 5 years old, with no chronic conditions) with acute diarrhea.
Methods: In November 2019, the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were utilized to conduct a literature search. A total of 6 studies were ultimately chosen based on their relevancy to the research question as well as similarities in study design, exclusion criteria, and outcome measures.
Results: Reviews of the studies reveal conflicting results. 4 of the 6 studies suggest probiotic supplementation reduces diarrhea duration, while the 2 largest studies recommend against this treatment. The studies had similarities in demographics, study design, and outcome measures. Large variations in geographic location, treatment type, and treatment dosage are found across the research.
Discussion: Variations in treatments used in each study, especially the use of many different probiotic strains, makes comparison difficult. All studies found minimal difference in adverse events between control and treatment groups, indicating probiotics are likely safe in pediatric populations. Despite smaller studies presenting promising research in favor of probiotic supplementation, no evidence provided by larger or more strictly designed studies suggests probiotics provide any benefit in this context. Evidence is lacking to recommend use of probiotics in pediatric patients suffering from acute diarrhea.
Recommended Citation
Patterson, Mary B., "Probiotic Supplementation in Acute Pediatric Diarrhea" (2021). Capstone Showcase. 87.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2021/pa/87
Additional Files
Probiotic Supplementation in Acute Pediatric Diarrhea.pdf (2308 kB)Presentation PDF
Patterson References.pdf (82 kB)
References
Probiotic Supplementation in Acute Pediatric Diarrhea
Introduction: Diarrhea, defined as 3 or more loose watery stools per day, ranges from a nuisance in the developing world to a life-threatening condition in developing countries. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death of children under 5 worldwide. Standard treatment is administration of an oral rehydration solution (ORS), with zinc supplementation added to this treatment in developing countries. Recent studies propose potential for the addition of probiotic supplementation to this established standard. This paper examines the efficacy of probiotic supplementation in reducing diarrhea duration when compared to traditional treatment of oral rehydration in healthy pediatric patients (under 5 years old, with no chronic conditions) with acute diarrhea.
Methods: In November 2019, the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were utilized to conduct a literature search. A total of 6 studies were ultimately chosen based on their relevancy to the research question as well as similarities in study design, exclusion criteria, and outcome measures.
Results: Reviews of the studies reveal conflicting results. 4 of the 6 studies suggest probiotic supplementation reduces diarrhea duration, while the 2 largest studies recommend against this treatment. The studies had similarities in demographics, study design, and outcome measures. Large variations in geographic location, treatment type, and treatment dosage are found across the research.
Discussion: Variations in treatments used in each study, especially the use of many different probiotic strains, makes comparison difficult. All studies found minimal difference in adverse events between control and treatment groups, indicating probiotics are likely safe in pediatric populations. Despite smaller studies presenting promising research in favor of probiotic supplementation, no evidence provided by larger or more strictly designed studies suggests probiotics provide any benefit in this context. Evidence is lacking to recommend use of probiotics in pediatric patients suffering from acute diarrhea.