Use of Probiotic Yogurt in the Management of Acute Diarrhoea in Children. Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study

Background: In Bolivia there are few probiotic preparations available in the market, practically without alternatives to the use of freeze-dried products. An alternative used as a good alternative in other parts of the world is yogurt with a probiotic strain added. In this study we report the use of a locally prepared yogurt with a lyophilized probiotic added. Methods: This is randomized, double-blind and controlled clinical trial in children hospitalized with acute diarrhoea carried out at the Paediatric Centre Albina Patiño in Cochabamba, Bolivia with children 10 to 35 months par-ticipating. Children were randomly assigned to receive an oral rehydration solution and Sac-charomyces boulardii (positive control) or the same solution plus yogurt preparation containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus (yogurt group). The primary outcome was the duration of diarrhoea. Secondary outcomes were the duration of fever, vomiting and hospitalization. Results: Of the 74 children incorporated 42 completed the protocol; baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. The median duration of diarrhoea was similar in children who received yogurt (71 hours) and controls (79 hours) (p = 0.3). The mean duration of fever was also similar in both groups: S