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 .
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis in prevention of common infections in healthy children attending day care centers - Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.
BACKGROUND & AIMS The aim of our study was to investigate the role of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp . lactis ( BB-12 ( ® ) ) in the prevention of common ( gastrointestinal and respiratory ) infections in healthy children who attend day care centers . METHODS We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial in 210 children who attend day care centers . They were r and omly allocated to receive placebo ( Placebo group , n = 106 ) or BB-12 ( ® ) at a dose of 10(9 ) colony-forming units ( CFU ) ( Intervention group , n = 104 ) during the 3-month intervention period . RESULTS Intention to treat analysis was used . There were overall 99 infections in Placebo group and 97 in Intervention group ( incidence rate ratio = 1.0014 , p = 0.992 , Poisson regression model ) . Overall 65 children ( 61.3 % ) in Placebo group and 67 ( 64.4 % ) in Intervention group had common infections ( p = 0.642 ) . Mean number of infections per child was 0.93 ( range 0 - 3 ) in Placebo group and 0.93 ( range 0 - 3 ) in Intervention group ( p = 0.898 ) . There was no difference in secondary ( duration of symptoms , number of children with gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections , absence from day care center due to infections , use of antibiotics ) and exploratory ( type of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infection ) endpoints between groups . CONCLUSION Results of performed study show that BB-12 ( ® ) has no effect on the prevention of gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections in healthy children who attend 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 .