Probiotics is a term that refers to bacteria given to patients to promote or maintain health. Studies indicate that if you take probiotics, you can shorten the length of diarrhea episodes without ill effects. Diarrhea-related infectious conditions cause significant mortality worldwide, especially in young children. Probiotics are thought to work by displacement of disease organisms and boosting the immune system.
Acute Infection
Scientific reviews of the treatment of young children for acute diarrhea related to infectious disease show that probiotics can shorten the duration of the diarrhea in infants and young children. The effectiveness of the treatment was variable, however. Estimates show about a 60 percent reduction in acute diarrhea. According to pediatrician Stephen Allen, more research is required to establish guidelines for what probiotic regimens to use in specific patient groups.
Adults
Many adults treat themselves with probiotics for gastrointestinal problems ranging from irritable bowel syndrome to traveler's diarrhea. You should be aware that diarrhea is a very common condition that may be due to many reasons. Your symptoms may not even be related to any underlying disease. If you take probiotics for diarrhea, they may have little or no effect, whether or not your symptoms have anything to do with microbes or infections. If you do have an infection, you may not be taking the right probiotics for your type of infection.
Self-Treatment
Many organisms can cause infectious diarrhea, and there are different possible combinations of probiotics, such as different strains of Lactobacillus. You can buy probiotics without a prescription. There may be probiotics in yogurt with live cultures, for example. You can also buy probiotic supplements in health food stores, supermarkets, grocery stores and online. Although most research on probiotic therapy for various conditions has involved adults, studies regarding probiotic therapy specifically for diarrhea in adults has lagged.
How They Work
When microorganisms that cause disease overgrow in your intestinal tract, they can cause infections, during which diarrhea may be a symptom. Probiotics are thought to repopulate your gut with healthy bacteria. This displaces the infectious organisms. Some studies suggest that probiotics also stimulate the response of your intestinal immune system, either directly or indirectly. Beyond local reactions, there may also be effects on your systemic immunity.
Additional Information
Pediatric diarrhea is the most common cause of global mortality in children less than 5 years old. But symptoms end on their own most of the time, in which case you don't have to seek any medical intervention or investigation. The main risk is dehydration. If you decide to start taking probiotics, note that they are not regulated as drugs are. At the same time, probiotics are generally considered quite safe to take.
References
- ScienceDaily; Probiotics Shorten Diarrhea Episodes, Review Suggests; November 10, 2010
- Cochrane Library: Probiotics for Treating Acute Infectious Diarrhoea; Stephen Allen et al.; 2010
- "The American Society for Nutrition J. Nutr"; Probiotics and Prebiotics: Effects on Diarrhea; Michael de Vrese and Philippe Marteau; March 2007
- Harvard Medical School: Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics; September 2005
- "International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotics"; Meta-Analysis of Probiotics; Lynne McFarland et al.; January 2006
- "FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology"; Effects of Seven Potential Probiotic Strains on Specific Immune Responses in Healthy Adults; Damien Paineau, et al.; June 2008
