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 .
Economic impact of community-acquired and nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections in young children in Germany
Data on the economic burden of lower respiratory tract infections ( LRTI ) in young children are lacking in Germany . The objective of the cost-of-illness study was to estimate the economic impact of community-acquired LRTI and nosocomial LRTI as well as of infections due to respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV ) , parainfluenza viruses ( PIV ) and influenza viruses ( IV ) . The economic analysis is part of the PRI.DE study , a prospect i ve , multi-centre , population -based epidemiological study on the impact of LRTI in children aged 0 to 36 months in Germany . The analysis includes children with community-acquired infections ( 1329 cases treated as out patients , 2039 cases treated as in patients ) and nosocomial infections ( 90 cases ) .  Medical services consumed were generated by chart abstract ion and parental expenses data by telephone interviews within four weeks after physician visit or hospitalisation . Costs were evaluated from following perspectives : third party payer , parent and society . Total costs for outpatient treatment are € 123 per LRTI case . Stratified by virus type , total costs per case are € 163 ( RSV ) , € 100 ( PIV ) and € 223 ( IV ) . Total costs per hospitalised LRTI case amount to € 2579 . Stratified by virus type , total costs per case are € 2772 ( RSV ) , € 2374 ( PIV ) and € 2597 ( IV ) . Total costs per nosocomial case are € 2814 . Economic burden due to LRTI is € 213 million annually . It is concluded that treatment of LRTI in children up to age three causes a considerable economic burden in Germany . Presented results are the first data describing the economic burden of LRTI in young children assessed by means of the incidence data for Germany . This cost-of-illness study provides basic data for further decision-making , focusing on the economic assessment of preventive strategies for RSV , PIV and IV infections
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 .