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Review
. 2015 Fall;6(4):187-95.

Efficacy of probiotic use in acute rotavirus diarrhea in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Elaheh Ahmadi  1 , Reza Alizadeh-Navaei  2 , Mohammad Sadegh Rezai  3
Affiliations
Review

Efficacy of probiotic use in acute rotavirus diarrhea in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Elaheh Ahmadi et al. Caspian J Intern Med. 2015 Fall.

Abstract

Background: Probiotic therapies with different strains demonstrated some beneficial effects, although some studies did not show any significant effects. This study assessed systematically the current knowledge on the effect of probiotic bacteria on duration of acute rotavirus diarrhea in children compared with control.

Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Trial Register (CCTR) and Ovid (Wolters Kluwer Health) were searched between 1980 to June 15, 2013. Randomized controlled trials including the administration of probiotics for treatment of rotavirus diarrhea in infants and children were reviewed.

Results: A total number of 1244 articles were found through the aforementioned search. 203 articles were selected after the first screening of title and abstract. The intervention group included subjects who received probiotic strains and dosage in any conditions. Placebo or any similar vehicle without probiotic was used in the controlled trials. Finally, 14 articles were selected. The outcomes from each study were considered in the duration of diarrhea. Statistical analyses were performed with Stata software. The pooled estimate of efficacy of probiotics in prevention or treatment of disease yielded in all studies a mean difference of 0.41 (CI 95%: -0.56 to -0.25; p<0.001). The pooled estimate of efficacy of lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and other probiotics significantly reduced the duration of diarrhea. Among trials, the overall reduction of LGG was 0.47 (CI 95%: -0.80 to -0.14; P= 0.020).

Conclusion: In conclusion, probiotics exert positive effect in reducing the duration of acute rotavirus diarrhea compared with control.

Keywords: Acute Diarrhea; Children; Probiotics; Rotavirus.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow design of the identification eligibility trial for inclusion
Figure 2
Figure 2
The effect size for the overall effects of probiotics in the duration of diarrhea
Figure 3
Figure 3
The effect size for effects of non-LGG probiotics in the duration of diarrhea
Figure 4
Figure 4
The effect size for effects of non-LGG probiotics in the duration of diarrhea
Figure 5
Figure 5
Funnel plot for enrolled studies
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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