Preliminary Study of Probiotics in Reducing Common Cold in Children

Abstract

Infections of the upper respiratory tract are very common in children. Clinical features and patterns of disease are different from those in adults. The common cold is responsible for the largest proportion of school and work absenteeism and causes a huge economic burden. None of the current interventions is greatly effective for prevention. Our aim was to assess the efficacy of probiotic for prevention of common cold symptoms in healthy children. A randomized controlled trial was performed in a public school of Northeast Thailand. Children, aged 6–12 years, were randomized to receive either a probiotic or placebo given one a day for 1.5 months. The primary outcome was any symptom of cold during the 1.5 month study period while vomiting, diarrhea, use of antibiotics, school absence due to any cause, school absence due to cold and duration of all symptoms were secondary outcomes. A children probiotic given one a day for 1.5 months was able to reduce the symptoms of the common cold and school absenteeism in children.