Conclusion : Based on the available data and taking into account the safety profile of RCTs , probiotic consumption appears to be a feasible way to decrease the incidence of RTIs in children
Background : Respiratory tract infections ( RTIs ) represent one of the main health problems in children .
Probiotics are viable bacteria that colonize the intestine and affect the host intestinal microbial balance .
Accumulating evidence suggests that probiotic consumption may decrease the incidence of or modify RTIs .
The authors systematic ally review ed data from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) to investigate the effect of probiotic consumption on  RTIs in children .
Lactobacillus GG in the prevention of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections in children who attend day care centers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND & AIMS The aim of our study was to investigate the role of Lactobacillus GG ( LGG ) in the prevention of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections in children who attend day care centers . METHODS We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial in 281 children who attend day care centers . They were r and omly allocated to receive LGG at a dose of 10(9 ) colony-forming units in 100ml of a fermented milk product ( LGG group , n=139 ) or placebo that was the same post-pasteurized fermented milk product without LGG ( placebo group , n=142 ) during the 3-month intervention period . RESULTS Compared to the placebo group , children in the LGG group had a significantly reduced risk of upper respiratory tract infections ( RR 0.66 , 95 % CI 0.52 to 0.82 , NNT 5 , 95 % CI 4 to 10 ) , a reduced risk of respiratory tract infections lasting longer than 3 days ( RR 0.57 , 95 % CI 0.41 to 0.78 , NNT 5 , 95 % CI 4 to 11 ) , and a significantly lower number of days with respiratory symptoms ( p<0.001 ) . There was no risk reduction in regard to lower respiratory tract infections ( RR 0.82 , 95 % CI 0.24 to 2.76 ) . Compared with the placebo group , children in the LGG group had no significant reduction in the risk of gastrointestinal infections ( RR 0.63 , 95 % CI 0.38 to 1.06 ) , vomiting episodes ( RR 0.60 , 95 % CI 0.29 to 1.24 ) , and diarrheal episodes ( RR 0.63 , 95 % CI 0.35 to 1.11 ) as well as no reduction in the number of days with gastrointestinal symptoms ( p=0.063 ) . CONCLUSION LGG administration can be recommended as a valid measure for decreasing the risk of upper respiratory tract infections in children attending day care centers
Conclusion : Based on the available data and taking into account the safety profile of RCTs , probiotic consumption appears to be a feasible way to decrease the incidence of RTIs in children
Background : Respiratory tract infections ( RTIs ) represent one of the main health problems in children .
Probiotics are viable bacteria that colonize the intestine and affect the host intestinal microbial balance .
Accumulating evidence suggests that probiotic consumption may decrease the incidence of or modify RTIs .
The authors systematic ally review ed data from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) to investigate the effect of probiotic consumption on  RTIs in children .