Effect of Oral Saccharomyces Boulardii Supplementation on the Duration of Acute Watery Diarrhea in Children

Aim: To compare the mean duration of acute watery diarrhea in hospitalized children, 6 months to 5 years of age, with moderate dehydration and normal nutritional status managed with and without Saccharomyces boulardii. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Duration of study: Study was conducted for a period of 6 months from January 2017 to June 2017 Place of study: Multan Medical and Dental College/Ibn-e-Seina Hospital & Research Institute Multan. Methods: A total of 314 children 6 months to 5 years of age with acute watery diarrhea were hospitalized and included in the study. Patient was divided randomly into two groups (A and B) by Draws method. Tow draws were made, one for group A and other for group B.. One hundred and fifty seven patients were included in each group. Patients included in group A were given oral sachharomyces boulardii supplementation and the patients in group B were not given oral sachharomyces boulardii. Results: Mean duration of illness was 4.37+0.11 days in patients of group A (who were given sachharomyces boulardii supplementation), while in group B (who were not given Sachharomyces Boulardii), means duration of illness was 4.59+.12 days. All the patients recovered, no death occurred. Conclusion: According to my study, oral saccharomyces boulardii has significant role in reducing the duration of acute watery diarrhea.