Aim: To evaluate the role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) as probiotic in persistent diarrhea (PD) in children of North Bengal, India.
Setting: Hospital-based study.
Design: Randomized, double-blind controlled trial.
Patients and methods: All patients of PD admitted over a period of 2 years were included in the study as per predefined inclusion criteria. They were randomized to receive oral rehydration solution (ORS) alone, or ORS plus LGG powder containing 60 million cells, twice daily for a minimum period of 7 days or till diarrhea has stopped along with correction of dehydration with ORS and/or intravenous fluids as per WHO protocol and antibiotics in culture positive patients. The duration and frequency of purge and vomiting were studied. Data were analyzed by SPSS-10 software. Statistical significance was calculated by Student t test and chi2 test.
Results: The study comprised of 235 patients randomized into 2 groups, cases (117) and controls (118). Both the groups were similar with respect to age, number of breastfed infants, presentation with dehydration, degree of protein energy malnutrition, and distribution of infections. Stool culture was positive in 90 (38.3%) patients, Escherichia coli being the commonest organism followed by Shigella spp. and Clostridium difficile. The mean duration of diarrhea was significantly lower in the cases than in controls (5.3 vs. 9.2 d). The average duration of hospital stay was also significantly lesser in cases. No complication was observed from the dose of LGG used.
Conclusions: LGG (dose of 60 million cells) could decrease the frequency and duration of diarrhea and vomiting and reduced hospital stay in patients of PD.