RESUMO
Background/Aim: Probiotics are live microbial supplements that improve the microbial balance in the host animal when administered in adequate amounts. They play an important role in relieving symptoms of many diseases associated with gastrointestinal tract, for example, in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), antibiotic-associated diarrhea, relapsing Clostridium difficile colitis, Helicobacter pylori infections, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this narrative review, the authors aim to evaluate the role of different probiotic formulations in treating gastrointestinal diseases in pediatric population aged 18 years or younger and highlight the main considerations for selecting probiotic formulations for use in this population. Methodology: The authors searched PubMed and Clinicaltrials.gov from inception to 24th July 2022, without any restrictions. Using an iterative process, the authors subsequently added papers through hand-searching citations contained within retrieved articles and relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Results: The effectiveness of single-organism and composite probiotics in treating gastrointestinal disorders in pediatric patients aged 18 or under were analyzed and compared in this study. A total of 39 studies were reviewed and categorized based on positive and negative outcomes, and compared with a placebo, resulting in 25 studies for single-organism and 14 studies for composite probiotics. Gastrointestinal disorders studied included NEC, acute gastroenteritis (AGE), Acute Diarrhea, Ulcerative Colitis (UC), and others. The results show that probiotics are effective in treating various gastrointestinal disorders in children under 18, with single-organism probiotics demonstrating significant positive outcomes in most studies, and composite probiotics showing positive outcomes in all studies analyzed, with a low incidence of negative outcomes for both types. Conclusion: This study concludes that single-organism and composite probiotics are effective complementary therapies for treating gastrointestinal disorders in the pediatric population. Hence, healthcare professionals should consider using probiotics in standard treatment regimens, and educating guardians can enhance the benefits of probiotic therapy. Further research is recommended to identify the optimal strains and dosages for specific conditions and demographics. The integration of probiotics in clinical practice and ongoing research can contribute to reducing the incidence and severity of gastrointestinal disorders in pediatric patients.
RESUMO
Background: Menstruation marks the beginning of the reproductive life of a girl. A poor menstrual understanding and its unhealthy practices may increase the risk of reproductive infections, urinary tract infections, and even cancer. Therefore, the main objective of this study was studying the knowledge and attitude regarding menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls so that it can be then taken as a background for designing necessary interventions in the community. Objectives: 1) To study the knowledge and attitude towards menstruation among adolescent girls and 2) to study the menstrual hygiene practices and health-seeking behaviour of the adolescent girls. Methods: This was a university-based descriptive cross-sectional study carried out by directly interviewing the subjects using the interviewer-administered questionnaire - pre-tested and pre-designed proforma. The data were analysed statistically by simple proportions. Results: Among the study subjects, 79% had proper knowledge about menstruation. 82% had a normal menstrual pattern. Nearly 96% used sanitary pads, and 2.36% used reusable cloths. Regarding restrictions, 74.80% restrained themselves from visiting the places of worship, 21% avoided physical exercise, and 7.87% had to remain isolated with minimal social contact. Nearly 19% made conscious efforts for dietary changes during menstruation. Conclusion: A majority of the subjects had a regular menstrual cycle, but menstrual problems were found to be more among those having irregular periods, those changing absorbents infrequently, with an inadequate frequency of cleaning, and those using plain water for cleaning. The study however does reflect the fact that menstrual hygiene was unsatisfactory among adolescent girls. Therefore, they need to be educated about the facts of menstruation and proper hygienic practices.
