The Use of Probiotic with ORS and ORS Only in Children with Acute Diarrhea.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the mean number of stools per day in children treated with combination of probiotic (lactobacillus rhamnosus) with ORS and ORS only in acute diarrhea. STUDY DESIGN: Randomised control trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Pediatric Medicine, PNS Shifa Hospital, from February to July, 2017. METHODOLOGY: A total of 80 children with acute watery diarrhea were randomly divided into two groups. Forty patients in first group were given probiotic with ORS and 40 patients in second group (control) were given ORS only. All children were monitored from 0 day (inclusion day) to next 5 days. Demographic data was collected regarding age, gender, weight and frequency of loose stools. Dehydration status was also assessed at the time of admission by the attending physician. Data was collected through a structured proforma. RESULTS: The average age of the children was 24.3 ±18.65 months. There were 47 (58.8%) males and 33 (41.3%) females. Mean number of stools was significantly low in those patients who were treated with combination of probiotic (lactobacillus rhamnosus) with ORS than those who were treated with ORS only in acute diarrhea (3.25 ±1.13 vs. 4.13 ±0.79; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Probiotics are found to be significantly more effective in reducing the stool frequency in acute diarrhea.