Are Probiotics Helpful to Manage Diarrhea in Kids?

In the supplement industry, probiotics have become a popular commodity. They're used to restore the body's beneficial bacteria. They can even help with irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, and the common cold.

When consumed, probiotics, which are also known as "good bacteria," can provide a variety of health advantages because most health benefits  attributed to probiotics are related directly or indirectly to the gastrointestinal system. Using probiotic bacteria for the prevention or treatment of gastrointestinal problems is one of the  most common applications of probiotics.

Probiotics are commonly used by adults, but are they safe for kids? Before you hand them on to your children, here's what you should know:

Uses of Probiotics

According to a few probiotic manufacturers, various health benefits are linked to the consumption of probiotics. Here are multiple uses of probiotics:

1. It helps to balance the friendly bacteria in the digestive system. When Probiotics are consumed in sufficient quantities they can restore the natural balance of gut bacteria. 

2. It can help to prevent and treat diarrhea. Studies show that probiotics can help in reducing the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

3. Consuming probiotic supplements can also help to improve certain types of mental health conditions and also deal with depression, anxiety, and stress.

4. Some strains of probiotics can help to keep the heart healthy. They can help in reducing the “bad” LDL cholesterol levels which can protect the heart by lowering high blood pressure.

5. Probiotics  can help to reduce the severity of some kind of allergies and eczema. It can help in decreasing the risk of allergies, such as eczema among infants.

What are probiotics?

Generally, bacteria are considered bad for health, but not all of them are harmful to humans. To stay healthy, your body requires some specific type of good bacteria. They act as an aid in nutrient absorption, digestion, and the fight against infections that can make you ill. 

A microbiome is a colony of bacteria that lives inside your body. It consists of both beneficial and harmful viruses, bacteria, and fungus. They can be found:

• On your skin

• In your saliva

• In your urogenital tract

• In your gut

Infection and sickness can arise when the balance of good and bad microorganisms in your microbiome is changing or shifting. In this case, antibiotics can be used to kill these bad bacteria that cause infections. However, antibiotics can also eliminate some of the beneficial bacteria that keeps the bad bacteria at bay. This allows other harmful organisms to multiply, perhaps resulting in secondary illnesses. Urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and intestinal infections are all common types of secondary infections.

Probiotics are living, beneficial microorganisms or bacteria that can naturally be found in your body. They may contain either just one type of bacterium or a blend of several species.

Are probiotics safe for kids? Here’s what you need to know.

Each year, 10.2 million children under the age of five suffer from diarrhea around the world, accounting for almost one-fifth of the children’s population. Diarrhea that lasts longer than two weeks is responsible for around half of all diarrhea-related deaths among kids. To avoid diarrhea, excellent diet and hydration, good hygiene, clean water, rotavirus immunization, and breastfeeding are all considered critical.

Probiotic supplements are given to many adults to treat digestive system-related problems. Some people believe that probiotics might assist with eczema and even yeast infections.

But it doesn’t always work in the same way for children.

The microbiome of a child develops in the womb and throughout early childhood. Many diseases are thought to be caused by an unhealthy microbiome. Probiotics may help keep the microbiome healthy, but how they do so is still unknown.

Probiotics are a well-known remedy for children which is considered natural.

They are the third most popular natural product among kids, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health's 2012 National Health Interview Survey.

Probiotic use in children has a lot of anecdotal evidence which supports its effectiveness. However, the health advantages may vary as per strain. A strain that is beneficial to one ailment could be ineffective against another. As a result of this (and a lack of study), there is no clear answer as to whether or not your child should consume probiotics, especially when considered for long periods.

There is a certain risk associated with the consumption of probiotics in kids. Children with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to infection and some can experience bloating and gas. Probiotics can also have serious side effects in ill infants. Hence, check with your pediatrician before giving probiotic supplements to your child.

Probiotic Bacillus Clausii

Probiotic Bacillus Clausii is a rod-shaped, Gram-positive, motile, and spore-forming bacterium. It is even classified as a probiotic microorganism that can maintain a symbiotic relationship with the host organism. It is also used for treating respiratory infections and some gastrointestinal disorders. It has been found to produce anti-microbial substances.

Conclusion

In healthy infants and children, probiotics may help reduce colic, acute constipation, and acid reflux. It may also assist in the prevention of secondary infections and diarrhea in children who are taking antibiotics. It can also help prevent eczema and allergies.

Because the long-term effects of probiotics on children are uncertain, children should not be given probiotic supplements as a preventive measure unless a doctor recommends it.

Instead, include probiotic items like yogurt in your child's diet to help them maintain a healthy microbiome.