Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Best Probiotic For Infant Diarrhea

Should My Child Take Probiotics After Antibiotics

Should I give my baby probiotics or not?

For some children, antibiotics can change the balance of bacteria in their gut, which can cause diarrhoea. There is some evidence that the same probiotic strains Lactobacillus Rhamnosus and Saccharomyces Boulardii, thought to help diarrhoea after tummy bugs, may also help prevent diarrhoea caused by antibiotics in some children .

However, this does not seem to help all children and researchers are unsure why this is the case. As probiotics arent harmful, you could consider trying them to see if they help your little one.

There is stronger evidence to show probiotic supplements may shorten the length of time diarrhoea continues for after a course of antibiotics .

The Best Probiotics For Ibs: A Double

It certainly appears probiotics can help manage IBS, but only particular strains and mixtures.

Just keep in mind that they should not be used as a sole therapy.

In other words, probiotics are most effective in combination with current conventional treatments such as a medications , and before or after a low FODMAP diet.

Also note that they can be a double-edged sword what works fantastic for some may only make symptoms worse in others. It likely depends on your existing gut bacteria environment.

For this reason you should be willing to experiment with different strains and different brands. Where one type doesnt help, maybe another will.

The most clinically proven and recommended brands among gastrointestinal specialists are VSL#3, Symprove and Alflorex/Align, in no specific order. But as always, speak with your doctor before trying anything new.

About Joe Leech, Dietitian

Joe Leech is a university-qualified dietitian from Australia.

He graduated with a Bachelors degree in exercise science, followed by a Masters degree in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2011.

Learn more about him on the About page.

Joe Leech, Dietitian

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Symptoms And Causes Of Diarrhoea In Children

Diarrhoea is a very common problem in children younger than age five. The definition of diarrhea is three or more loose or liquid stools per day . Reference: WHO.

The sudden onset of diarrhea with or without vomiting in a previously healthy child is usually due to acute gastroenteritis. Acute gastroenteritis is an infection of the gut leading to an inflammation of the stomach and the intestines. It causes diarrhea and may also cause symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain and fever. The symptoms normally lasts up to a week.

Diarrhoea as a side effect of antibiotic therapy is also common. Up to 40 per cent of children treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics suffer from gastrointestinal side effects. Apart from diarrohea symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating and stomach pain. Antibiotics disrupt the balance of our gut bacteria, the microbiota, our gut bacteria, and this imbalance can persist for a long time.

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What Are Probiotics For Babies

Probiotics are dietary supplements that are said to help improve the health of your gut. Probiotics for babies are the samebut the idea is theyre baby-friendly.Lets start from the top:

A healthy adult gut contains bacteria, both friendly and not so friendly. In fact, your gut is one great big collection of bacteria, AKA a microbiome, that all exists in a delicate balance.

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When you become unwellor when you take antibioticsthe sensitive balance of your microbiome can get upset, and symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, gas, and irritable bowels can result.

Now, thats where probiotics come in. These are good bacteria you can take as a supplementor eat in yogurt, cheese, and fermented foodsto help restore the balance in your microbiome. By restoring that balance, you ease those uncomfortable symptoms.

For adults, there is some evidence that they work. But what about babies?

What Are The Best Types Of Probiotics For Toddlers

Culturelle® Infant Probiotic Drops Help Soothe Your Baby

You may want to look for the following when shopping for probiotics for your toddler:

  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG : This strain has consistently been shown to help with diarrhea.
  • Saccharomyces boulardii:This strain is also thought to help children who have infectious diarrhea.

Keep in mind that there are lots of bacteria strains in supplement form within the Lactobacillus group as well as the Bifidobacterium group, so its unclear which strains may be most effective.

Ask your child’s pediatrician which strain he or she specifically recommends for your child.

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What Are Probiotic Treatments

Before you ask which probiotic is best, you might want to consider what probiotic treatments are in the first place? Probiotics are commonly used to aid digestion in those who are constantly suffering from digestive issues like diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, bloat, and stomach cramps just to name a few. It has been used for infants and kids who are suffering from diarrhea because it is easy to consume and good for the stomach.

Probiotic treatments are also recommended to those who are taking antibiotics because they help prevent diarrhea from occurring during intake of medications. This is important for recovery of the patient. Health experts say that the intestines will take time to recover from the antibiotics that you are taking which is why adding probiotics can help a lot. So which probiotic is best to conquer your digestive issues?

Professional Infant Childrens & Kids Probiotic

Features: Probiotic contains FOS to promote additional growth of healthy bacteria in the intestines. No dairy, GMOs, gluten, corn, soy, or yeast. Best for: overall gut health Ingredients: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus reuteri, microcrystalline cellulose, and fructo-oligosaccharides . Taste: mild taste. Mixed well in a glass of water and would be great in a bottle of formula, breastmilk, or mixed in yogurt or applesauce. Cost per Serving: $0.28 per infant serving, $0.56 per toddler serving. Things to Know: This is a great-priced probiotic that would work for overall gut health.

Note on Products: while I did receive some of these products as gifts, this post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.

I am not a doctor, so please consult your pediatrician if you have any question or concerns about the information in this post.

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Health Benefits Of Baby Probiotics

Despite what product marketers might want us to believe, not all probiotics are good for specific health effects. There is a vast array of probiotic strains, most belonging to either the Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium group. Each strain within these groups has unique characteristics, functions, and potential health perks. The benefit of baby probiotics depends on the specific strain. And researchers havent probed every strain out there.

This is why, aside from a few probiotic strains shown to be effective for certain health conditions, its too soon to say with certainty that all babies and toddlers benefit from taking daily probiotics. Some could benefit, Merenstein says. But not enough enough clinical trials have been done on children to know for sure. For instance, probiotics seem to do some general good for the immune system and gastrointestinal health, he says. But from the existing research, its difficult to tease out exactly why or how theyre helping or which strains are actually effective.

That said, experts do know for certain that probiotics are overwhelmingly safe with few, if any, negative side effects. And although many more clinical trials are needed, it seems that most strains hold the potential to do something positive for health. But again, is this enough proof to make it worth giving a relatively healthy baby or toddler a daily probiotic?

Probiotics For The Prevention Of Antibiotic

Pediatric Answers : Probiotics for Infants

What is antibiotic-associated diarrhea?

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea occurs when antibiotics disturb the natural balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in the intestinal tract causing harmful bacteria to multiply beyond their normal numbers. The symptoms of AAD include frequent watery bowel movements and crampy abdominal pain.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are found in dietary supplements or yogurts and contain potentially beneficial bacteria or yeast. Probiotics may restore the natural balance of bacteria in the intestinal tract.

What did the researchers investigate?

The researchers investigated whether probiotics prevent AAD in children receiving antibiotic therapy and whether probiotics causes any harms . The researchers searched the medical literature extensively up to May 28, 2018.

What did the researchers find?

Antibiotics alter the microbial balance commonly resulting in antibiotic-associated diarrhea . Probiotics may prevent AAD via providing gut barrier, restoration of the gut microflora, and other potential mechanisms of action.

The primary objectives were to assess the efficacy and safety of probiotics used for the prevention of AAD in children.

MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and the Web of Science were searched along with registers including the ISRCTN and Clinicaltrials.gov. We also searched the NICE Evidence Services database as well as reference lists from relevant articles.

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Probiotics For Diarrhea In Children Attending Day Care Centers

One RCT documented that a daily administration of L. reuteri for 3 months in 336 otherwise healthy, Mexican children attending day care centers a significant reduction in the number of episodes of diarrhoea, episodes of diarrhoea per child, mean duration of diarrhoea episodes and days with diarrhea per child both during the intervention and for the next 3-month follow-up period compared to the placebo group . Another RCT carried out in malnourished Indonesian children found that the consumption of regular calcium milk with L. reuteri compared with regular calcium milk alone reduced the risk of diarrhoeal disease . A double-blind RCT from Croatia in 210 children attending daycare centers found that that B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 given for months had no effect on the prevention of gastrointestinal .

Exclusively Breast Fed Babies: Causes Of Constipation

If your baby is constipated and breast feeding, it could be due to something in moms diet. If your baby is breast fed you may consider changing your diet, as your child may be allergic to something you are consuming .

While breast fed babies usually dont have constipation because breast milk is easily digestible, and even considered a natural laxative, it can still happen. But it usually happens around 4 months of age when babies go through a major growth spurt and sleep regression, or after the age of 6 months when other foods such as rice cereals, cows milk, or low fiber foods are introduced.

If your breast fed baby has pellet like stools, arches their back, and strains while going they may be constipated.

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Biogaia Protectis Probiotics Drops With Vitamin D

Why its great: This probiotic doesnt come in a glass jar, like most other liquid infant probiotics. Instead, it comes in a squeeze tube with a stopper on the end that makes counting the drops a lot easier . This probiotic can be given as early as the first day of life for infants. The tube seems tiny, but it actually contains a 50 day supply of probiotics and vitamin D.This product is great for breastfeeding mommas. Its recommended that breastfed babies take a daily supplement of vitamin D, which this product contains . Instead of giving 2 separate supplements, you can just give 1! You can administer this product in pumped milk, on a spoon, or even put it on your nipple before breastfeeding.

Keep in mind: This product is only shelf stable up to 77 degrees F, so delivery in the middle of the summer can be problematic.

Good for: Breastfeeding mommas who need to give their baby vitamin D drops as well as probiotics.

Best Strains Of Probiotics For Babies

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Researchers of an Australian study found that the best probiotics for infants were ones that included 2-3 strains or species of probiotics . Here are the top three to look for:

1. B. bifidum is one of the first strains to colonize babys intestines and adheres to the intestinal wall better than other strains. It continues to be an important bacteria for digestion and nutrient absorption. It may help with infant skin conditions like baby eczema and yeast infections. It may also help with infant digestive issues such as necrotizing enterocolitis , IBS, constipation, diarrhea, and even lung infections.

2. B. infantis is the strain that is most prevalent and powerful in infants and declines as we age. In fact, a new study shows that this strain may be going extinct in the Western world. This is a huge issue, as it crowds out pathogenic bacteria and helps with overall health and digestion. One review found that B. Infantis can reduce inflammation and support immune function.

3. L. reuteri is a strain that has been found to have many benefits for young children and infants. One study found that children ages 6 months to 3 years who took supplemental L. rheuteri had nearly one third fewer cases of diarrhea and half as many respiratory infections. Another studysuggests that L. rheuteri is an excellent treatment for colic. It was also found to reduce the levels of bacteria that cause tooth decay!

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Probiotics For Diarrhea Of Viral Origin

Viral agents are responsible for acute diarrheal episodes in children throughout the world with Rotavirus being the most important agent. A Cochrane database of systematic review compiled pooled estimates of benefit for Lactobacillus in acute rotavirus diarrhea and found a reduction in the duration of diarrhea of 29 hours , a reduction in stool frequency on day 2 following the intervention of 1.25 stools per day . Grandy et al studied S. boulardii alone or in combination with three other probiotics including two strains of Lactobacillus in rotavirus diarrhea. Both products seemed to be associated with a reduction in the duration of diarrhea. However, a Turkish study found benefit in terms of reduced duration of diarrhea for one of only four intervention groups given S. boulardii .

Although a number of treatment studies have reported the detection of other viral agents , individual isolates have been few in number and no studies have reported primary or secondary outcomes for probiotics administered for acute diarrheal episodes attributable to specific viral etiologies other than rotavirus.

Best For Stomach Bloating: Physicians Choice Probiotics To Stop Diarrhea

If you often find yourself confused about convenient and suitable probiotic,s physicians choose probioticsto stop diarrhea is your solution. The physician choice of probiotics to stopdiarrhea is very helpful, is very effective and it works for the first week. The Manufacturer says: Our product is contained in acid-resistant capsules to protect against stomach acid with delayed-release technology to ensure the probiotics reach the intestines and are released where theyre needed. Further, the probiotic can be shopped for the best price, works well with daily bowel movements and it works well for weight gain.

The probiotic has fish oil and it is used for more energy. Also, the probiotic is used for high cholesterol and it bought again. Most importantly, the physicians choice of probiotics to stop diarrhea is great for oral health and it works for h pylori.

Almost all customers quickly discovered that the probiotics are made from lipid-soluble probiotic strains as these are the most stable and reliable strain formulations. And, a few strongly agree that the probiotics made for a woman makes it even better. In addition, a few strongly agree that the probiotic is designed for sufficient enteric protection or gastric resistance for the probiotic strains to reach your intestines. To sum up, many buyers have used the physicians choice probiotics to stop diarrhea for more than a few months without any problems, and it shows no sign of giving up.

Top Customer Quotes:

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Upspring Probiotic With Colostrum

Features: each tiny packet contains 5 billion active cultures of 6 probiotic strains plus probiotics as well as natural bovine colostrum. Colostrum provides a complete range of antibodies for even more immune support. No artificial ingredients. All-natural, gluten-free, sugar-free, hormone-free.Best for: overall baby and toddler gut health helps reduce occasional digestive upset such as gas, diarrhea, hard stools, and other tummy troubles while also providing additional immune support. Ingredients: this is a great blend, but it does contain guar gum as well as milk. Probiotic Blend B. Lactis, B. Longum, B. Breve, Lactobacillus blend, L. Rhamnosus, L. Acidophilus, L. Reuteri, colostrum powder, FOS fructooligosaccharides and chicory root extract, Sunfiber , Silica. Contains MILK. Taste: mild flavor and mixes great into cool water, formula, breast milk, or in yogurt or applesauce. Cost per Serving: $0.30 per baby or toddler servings. Things to Know: this blend contains milk, so if your baby or toddler is dairy-free, you will have to pick another brand.

Can Baby Probiotics Help With Colic

OptiBac Probiotics ‘For babies & children’

Signs that your baby may be suffering from colic is when a baby is in distress and cries for long periods of time. There are many theories about what causes colic, including gastrointestinal discomfort. The research is promising on the effectiveness of probiotics for babies with colic.

A 2014 study looked at how probiotics could reduce colic symptoms. The study examined the results of 589 infants that received either probiotics or a placebo daily for 90 days. Researchers found that the infants using the supplements cried less and had fewer gastrointestinal symptoms.

Other studies have shown similar results. Omni-Biotic Panda has also shown in a clinical study with infants to reduce symptoms associated with 3-month colic, including crying duration and digestive discomfort.

The strain of probiotic may affect the supplements effectiveness. Researchers have seen positive outcomes with L. reuteri.

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Mommys Bliss Baby Probiotic Drops Everyday Gas Constipation Colic Symptom Relief Newborns & Up Natural Flavorless 034 Fl Oz

Features :

  • INFANT PROBIOTICS: Mommys Bliss baby Probiotic Drops Everyday use the worlds most researched probiotic strain. Recommended by pediatricians, Baby Probiotic Drops Everyday are a daily liquid probiotic supplement for babies that you can use from birth.
  • BABY PROBIOTICS: A healthy gut means a happy tummy, and probiotics can help keep babys belly happy by supporting their digestive system as they digest food and absorb vitamins. Mommys Bliss probiotics are pediatrician recommended.
  • REMEDIES FOR BABY: Our remedies help ease babys discomfort & bring back smiles*. From gripe water to help calm colic or tummy troubles, to organic baby cough syrup, baby probiotic drops, or baby vitamins, we help you find your parenting bliss*.
  • MOMMYS BLISS: Stockup with our gentle remedies to help bring comfort for the occasional cough, or colicky tummy trouble *. Probiotic drops and vitamins help support healthy immune systems*, for healthy, happy kids.
  • NOTE: Cloudy yellow appearance is normal. Do not add to hot food or before warming heat will damage live probiotics. Glass Dropper: Do not place in mouth. If washed, dry thoroughly before reuse

Additional Info :

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