Indian Academy of Pediatrics Consensus Guidelines for Probiotic Use in Childhood Diarrhea

• Published in: Indian pediatrics Vol. 59; no. 7; pp. 543 - 551
• Main Authors: Yachha, Surender Kumar, Sarma, Moinak Sen, Mohan, Neelam, Wadhwa, Nishant, Vr, Nagendra Kumar, Srinivasan, Ramesh, Shah, Dheeraj, Soans, Santosh, Yewale, Vijay, Basavaraja, Gv, Parekh, Bakul Jayant
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Springer India 01.07.2022
• Subjects: Maternal and Child Health; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pediatric Surgery; Pediatrics; Recommendations; Celiac disease; Necrotizing enterocolitis; Neonate; Irritable bowel syndrome; Antibiotics-associated diarrhea
• ISSN: 0019-6061; 0974-7559; 0974-7559
• DOI: 10.1007/s13312-022-2557-7

Justification Several probiotic species and strains, single or combined, have been evaluated in childhood diarrheal disorders, and recommendations have ever been changing as newer trials are published. Therefore, there is a need to develop a guideline for Indian children describing the current role of probiotics in clinical practice. Objectives To develop a guideline for the use of probiotics in children with diarrhea. Process A national consultative group (NCG) was constituted by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), consisting of subject experts. Sub-topics were allotted to various experts as paired groups for detailed review. Members reviewed the international and Indian literature for existing guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and trials. Thereafter, two virtual structured meetings of the group were held on 2nd and 22nd August, 2020. The management guidelines were formulated by the group and circulated to the participants for comments. The final guidelines were approved by all experts, and adopted by the IAP executive board. Recommendations The NCG suggests Lactobacillus GG as a conditional recommendation with low-to-moderate level evidence or Saccharomyces boulardii as a conditional recom-mendation with very low-to-low level evidence as adjuvant therapy in acute diarrhea. The NCG also recommends the use of combination probiotics in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), as these reduce the risk of NEC stage II and above, late-onset sepsis, mortality and also time to achieve full feeds. The NCG does not recommend the use of any kind of probiotics in the therapy of acute dysentery, persistent diarrhea, Clostridium difficile diarrhea and chronic diarrheal conditions such as celiac disease, diarrheapredominant irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease in children. Risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is high with some antibiotics and most of these cases present as mild diarrhea. The NCG recommends probiotics only in special situations of AAD. L. rhamnoses GG or S. boulardii may be used for the prevention of AAD. VSL#3, a combination probiotic, may be used as an adjuvant in active pouchitis, and for prevention of recurrences and maintenance of remission in pouchitis.