ACUTE DIARRHEA

Abstract

Acute diarrhea is the fourth-ranking cause of death in children under the ageof 5 years. after neonatal causes, malaria, and acute respiratory infections. Objectives: Todetermine the role of Saccharomyces boulardii in the treatment of acute diarrhea. Design:Comparative study. Period: Six months, Mar to Aug 2013. Setting: Pediatric Unit II- LiaquatUniversity Hospital Jamshoro/ Hyderabad. Patients and methods: It consisted of 100 patients,of acute diarrhea with age between 3 months to 5 years reported to pediatric unit and fulfilledthe inclusion criteria. Cases were given low osmolar ORS, Zinc & Saccharomyces boulardii250mg twice daily for three days and controls were given low osmolar ORS and Zinc. P-value≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The results showed that 51 patients were maleand 49 patients were female. 27 male patients were in control and 24 were in case group. 23female patients were in control and 26 were in case group. The overall mean age of studysubjects was 26.73±12.65 months. Among reported patients most of the patients 84% werereported on 1st day. All reported patients had a complaint of loose motion with 73% also hadvomiting. All patients had watery loose motion. The mean duration was 4.20±1.70 days withthe mean frequency of 9.82±6.16 times. Among the patients 96 patients were hospitalized and97 patients were given I/V fluid. Among reported patients 10 were without dehyderation, 8 hadsome dehyderation, and 82 had severe dehyderation. 52 had acceptability of probiotics. Theresults were evaluated according to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day post intervention. Among 50 patientsof case group, 18 patients were compliance. 49 patients had decrease in duration. The sameresults were observed in the decrease in frequency. Consistency was improved in 39 patients.The duration of hospitalization was reduced in 36 patients. It was observed that improvement inthe duration, frequency, and consistency was mostly observed on 2nd day of post intervention.Conclusions: The role of S. boulardii as a good biotherapeutic agent allowing to prevent and/ortreat several grastrointestinal diseases. In comparison to probiotic bacteria, the use of probioticyeast is beneficial when the treatment is combined to antibiotherapy.