Published Paper Details:

Diarrhoea is a symptom, and not a disease. Diarrhoea remains the second leading cause of death in children below 5 years of age; in addition, it is also the reason for considerable morbidity in children of all ages throughout the globe. The use of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of diarrhoeal illnesses, particularly in paediatric populations, has been thoroughly researched during the past few years. The prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea has been the subject of many investigations, both in children and in adults. Most commonly used probiotics were Lactobacillus GG, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium ssp, Streptococcus ssp, and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. Probiotics have been tested for a number of clinical uses such as the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD), the treatment of various diseases such as Helicobacter pylori infection, irritable bowel disease, vaginitis, the prevention of allergies, and necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns. AAD has been the most indicated therapeutic use for probiotics. A common and unwanted side effect of antibiotic therapy is antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD). Disruption of the gut microbiota, decreased intestinal short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, a buildup of luminal carbohydrates and colonic bile acids, impaired water absorption, and eventually diarrhoea are its hallmarks. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the prevention of AAD by probiotics. The hypothesis behind using probiotics for AAD is that they help normalize an unbalanced flora. Probiotics reduce the risk of AAD through altering the gut microbiota, influencing diet and bile acid metabolism, activating epithelial solute transporters, enhancing intestinal barrier function, and influencing the immune system. Probiotics are frequently suggested in addition to antibiotics, however, there is a lack of mechanistic evidence demonstrating how they can prevent AAD.