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 .
Efficacy of a synbiotic supplementation in the prevention of common winter diseases in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study
Background and aims : The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a synbiotic supplementation in reducing common winter diseases  in children . Methods : A r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , multicentre study was conducted in young school-age children ( 3—7 years old ) during a winter period . Participants were otherwise healthy children who suffered from at least three episodes of ear , nose and throat ( ENT ) , respiratory tract or gastrointestinal illness during the previous winter . They were supplemented daily with either a synbiotic preparation ( Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 , Bifidobacterium infantis R0033 , Bifidobacterium bifidum R0071 , and fructooligosaccharide ) or a matched placebo for 3 months . Over this period , all emergent health episodes of any type were recorded by parents in a diary . They were checked by investigators at regular monthly visits . The main study outcome was the percentage of children free of any episode during the study course . Results : We r and omized 135 children ( mean age : 4.1±1.0 years ) to the synbiotic group ( n = 62 ) or placebo ( n = 73 ) group . At least one illness episode was reported in 32 children in the synbiotic group and 50 in the placebo group ( 51.6 % versus 68.5 % ) . This corresponded to a significant 25 % relative risk reduction ( 95 % CI 0.6—44.3 % ; p = 0.045 ) . This difference was due to a decrease in the number of children who suffered from at least one ENT , respiratory tract or gastrointestinal disorder ( 50.0 % with synbiotic versus 67.1 % with placebo ; p = 0.044 ) . At least one sickness school day loss was noted in 25.8 % of children with the synbiotic as compared with 42.5 % with placebo ( p = 0.043 ) . No treatment related side effects were detected in either group . Conclusions : This study suggests that a 3-month supplementation with this synbiotic preparation  can decrease the risk of occurrence of common infectious diseases in children and limits the risk of school day loss
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 .