Analysing the effectiveness of probiotic yogurt to prevent antibiotic associated diarrhoea among children

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the effectiveness of probiotic yogurt in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea` (AAD) among children, a common and concerning side effect of antibiotic treatment. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 200 paediatric patients who were prescribed antibiotics and admitted to a hospital. The participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n=100) receiving probiotic yogurt and a control group (n=100) receiving standard care. The intervention lasted for five days, with the primary outcome being the incidence of AAD on the fifth day. Secondary outcomes included stool consistency, duration, frequency of diarrhoea, and related symptoms such as urgency of defecation, abdominal discomfort, and dehydration. The results showed statistically significant difference between experimental and control group (p=0.001). Furthermore, probiotic yogurt improved stool consistency (p