Probiotics in the treatment of acute intestinal infections in children (Review of scientific publications)

Acute intestinal infections (AII) remain one of the pressing health problems. The incidence of AII in children is significantly higher than in adults. Despite the significant diversity of AII pathogens, the composition of the intestinal microbiocenosis plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of the disease. An analysis of publications in the PubMed, EM BASE and Web of Science systems from December 2000 to June 2024 was carried out, covering studies on the clinical use of probiotics for AII in children. The analysis of the literature data shows that the treatment and prevention of AII are the most reliable indication for the use of probiotics, including in relation to children. At present, there is reliable evidence of the effectiveness of probiotic strains both in the treatment and prevention of intestinal infections. Thus, the results of numerous studies have confirmed that probiotics are a safe means used both for the prevention and treatment of AII. They are one of the key components of the pathogenetic therapy of AII in children. Based on systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials, it has been established that the use of probiotics helps to reduce the duration and severity of AII symptoms. The most significant effects have been demonstrated in relation to the treatment of AII of viral etiology. Evaluation of the effectiveness of probiotics in the prevention of diarrhea episodes varies depending on the etiology of the pathogen, age, concomitant pathology and immune status of patients, which indicates the need for further research in this area. The problems with the dosage and duration of probiotic therapy for various nosological forms of AII in children remain not fully resolved. Multi-strain probiotics require further study.