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Smectite for acute infectious diarrhoea in children
Giordano Pérez-Gaxiola1, Carlos A Cuello-García, Ivan D Florez
1Evidence-Based Medicine Department, Hospital Pediátrico de Sinaloa, Blvd. Constitución s/n, Col. Almada. 80200, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, 80200.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|April 26, 2018
Summary
Smectite, a medicinal clay, may shorten the duration of acute infectious diarrhea in children by about a day. This adjuvant therapy may also improve clinical resolution and reduce stool output, with minimal side effects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Acute infectious diarrhea remains a significant global health concern, particularly in children.
- While mortality rates have declined, reducing disease burden through adjuvant therapies is crucial.
- Smectite, a natural medicinal clay, is explored as a potential complementary treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of smectite in treating acute infectious diarrhea in pediatric populations.
- To assess the impact of smectite on diarrhea duration, clinical resolution, and stool output.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials.
- Inclusion criteria: children (1 month-18 years) with acute infectious diarrhea.
- Primary outcomes: diarrhea duration, clinical resolution at day 3, stool output. Searched multiple databases up to June 2017.
Main Results:
- Eighteen trials involving 2616 children were included.
- Smectite potentially reduces diarrhea duration by approximately one day (low-certainty evidence).
- May increase clinical resolution by day 3 and reduce stool output, with no significant effect on hospitalization or need for intravenous rehydration.
Conclusions:
- Smectite, as an adjunct to rehydration, shows potential in managing acute infectious diarrhea in children.
- It may shorten illness duration, improve recovery rates, and decrease stool frequency.
- Evidence suggests a favorable safety profile, with constipation being the main noted side effect.
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