TITLE:
Probiotics: A New Horizon for Treating Childhood Diarrhea in Bangladesh
AUTHORS:
Md. Abdul Bari, Md. Rabiul Islam
KEYWORDS:
Probiotics, A New Horizon, Childhood Diarrhea, Bangladesh
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.8 No.6,
June
21,
2017
ABSTRACT: Objectives: Probiotics are microbial cell preparations or living organisms that have
a beneficial effect on the health and well being of the host. Probiotics may
offer a safe intervention in acute infectious childhood diarrhea to reduce the
duration and severity of the illness. In many places, probiotics are overused
or misused and often given without professional jurisdiction. The present study was designed to analyze prescription patterns
of probiotics in rural area of Bangladesh and to assess the effects of
probiotics in proven or presumed infectious childhood diarrhea. Material and
Methods: This study was conducted at Manikganj district hospital of
Bangladesh from October to December 2016 to accumulate data from 430
respondents. The data were collected by taking prescription details from
patients or their relatives by face to face interview with them who were
willing to respond. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical
software package SPSS, version 23. Results: According to current study
oral rehydration therapy was found as a cornerstone for treating pediatric diarrhea.
In addition, it was observed that average 3.2 drugs prescribed per encounter
and more than 26.4% prescriptions contained probiotic products. Approximately
35% probiotics were prescribed by pediatricians. Bacillus and Lactobacillus were
found to be the most frequently prescribed probiotic species for treating
childhood diarrhea in Bangladesh. Both antibiotics and probiotics were
prescribed to one-third
of pediatric patients suffering from diarrhea. Only oral solid (63.7%) and oral
liquid (36.3%) were prescribed as probiotic products for pediatric patients. Conclusion: It is hoped that the outputs of the present study on probiotics will be
used as a science-based assessment tool for managerial decisions on probiotics.
This study will help to develop the guidelines and a practical model for the
industry to scientifically evaluate probiotics in food. As a national priority,
it is expected that these outputs will be useful for the government policy
makers to evaluate probiotics on health benefits and the study results can also
be used as a scientific tool for the assessment of this new therapeutic option.