Probióticos y prebióticos: rol en la terapéutica de la enfermedad diarreica aguda infantil / Probiotics and prebiotics: its role in childhood acute diarrheal disease therapy

RESUMEN: La enfermedad diarreica aguda infantil (EDAI), constituye un problema de salud pública, representando la 2ª causa de morbimortalidad infantil en menores de 5 años, en el Ecuador. La hidratación oral y parenteral en los niños hospitalizados bajo normas de administración de conformidad con el grado de deshidratación y pérdida de peso, así como medidas preventivas como la vacunación obligatoria contra el rotavirus, han contribuido a disminuir, pero no a solucionar este problema de salud infantil. Múltiples factores contribuyen para que no se resuelva: socioeconómicos, educacionales, el destete temprano y malas prácticas alimenticias, entre otros. Últimos estudios han propuesto la utilización de probióticos que contribuyan a disminuir el problema sugieriendo el usode Saccharomyces boulardii (SB), asociado a un prebiótico; lo que permitiría acortar el tiempo de tratamiento de una EDAI; por lo que la simbiosis entre SB y un prebiótico denominado fructooligosacárido (FOS), podría ser una alternativa para reducir costos y complicaciones. Una alternativa para medir el curso clínico de una EDAI en infantes es la escala BITTS, de reciente creación y fácil aplicación por clínicos. El objetivo de este manuscrito fue resumir la evidencia existente respecto del rol de losprobióticos y prebióticos en la terapéutica de de la EDAI.

SUMMARY: In Ecuador childhood acute diarrheal disease (CADD) constitutes a serious public health problem, representing the 2nd cause of infant morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years of age. Oral and parenteral hydration in hospitalized children, with standard treatments according to their degree of dehydration and weight loss, as well as preventive measures such as mandatory vaccination against rotavirus, have contributed to a decrease. Nevertheless, this childhood disease has still not been resolved. There are multiple contributing factors involved that prevent complete eradication of the disease Among these are socio-economic problems, education, early weaning and poor feeding practices, all of which continue to affect infants. Recent studies have proposed the use of probiotics that help reduce the problem and it has been suggested that Saccharomyces boulardii (SB), associated with a prebiotic, would reduce the treatment time of an CADD. Therefore, the symbiosis between the SB probiotic and a prebiotic called fructo- oligosaccharide (FOS) could be an alternative to reduce complications and reduce costs. An alternative to measure the clinical course of an CADD in infants is the BITTS scale, which was recently created and can easily be applied by clinicians. The aim of this manuscript was to summarize the existing evidence regarding the role of PROBIOTICS and prebiotics in the treatment of CADD.

First Case of CD40LG Deficiency in Ecuador, Diagnosed after Whole Exome Sequencing in a Patient with Severe Cutaneous Histoplasmosis.

Severe infections with Histoplasma capsulatum are commonly observed in patient with secondary immunodeficiency disorders. We report a two and a half years old boy previously healthy with disseminated cutaneous histoplasmosis. Using whole exome sequencing, we found an indel mutation at the CD40LG gene, suggesting a diagnosis of hyper-IgM (HIGM) syndrome, even in the absence of the usual features for the disease. Interestingly, the patient lives in a region endemic for histoplasmosis. The unusual infections in our case suggest that in children with severe histoplasmosis and resident in endemic areas, HIGM syndrome should be considered as a diagnosis.