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Updated: May 1, 2026
09:20
Investigating the Effects of Probiotics on Pneumococcal Colonization Using an In Vitro Adherence Assay
Published on: April 28, 2014
11.9K
Do children's upper respiratory tract infections benefit from probiotics?
Susanna Esposito1, Donato Rigante, Nicola Principi
1Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda no, 9, Milan 20122, Italy. susanna.esposito@unimi.it.
BMC Infectious Diseases
|April 12, 2014
Summary
Probiotics may offer some benefits for children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric immunology
- Microbiome research
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The gut microbiota influences lung immunity and inflammation.
- Probiotics are live microbes that can modify gut populations for host benefit.
- Their impact on children's respiratory tract infections (RTIs) requires evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on probiotics' impact on pediatric RTIs.
- To assess the potential of probiotics in preventing and treating RTIs in children.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on probiotics and pediatric respiratory health.
- Analysis of laboratory and clinical data on probiotic efficacy.
- Evaluation of gastrointestinal-respiratory interactions.
Main Results:
- Existing data on probiotics for pediatric RTIs are limited and contradictory.
- Some studies suggest potential clinical advantages, but strain-specific effects are unclear.
- Evidence is insufficient to recommend routine probiotic use for preventing RTIs.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to understand probiotic mechanisms and identify effective strains for pediatric RTIs.
- Data on children with chronic conditions and lower respiratory tract infections are lacking.
- Clarifying probiotic roles in prevention and treatment requires more robust studies.
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