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 .
Probiotic Effects on Cold and Influenza-Like Symptom Incidence and Duration in Children
OBJECTIVE : Probiotic consumption effects on cold and influenza-like symptom incidence and duration were evaluated in healthy children during the winter season . METHODS : In this double-blind , placebo-controlled study , 326 eligible children ( 3–5 years of age ) were assigned r and omly to receive placebo ( N = 104 ) , Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM ( N = 110 ) , or L acidophilus NCFM in combination with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis Bi-07 ( N = 112 ) . Children were treated twice daily for 6 months . RESULTS : Relative to the placebo group , single and combination probiotics  reduced fever incidence by 53.0 % ( P = .0085 ) and 72.7 % ( P = .0009 ) , coughing incidence by 41.4 % ( P = .027 ) and 62.1 % ( P = .005 ) , and rhinorrhea incidence by 28.2 % ( P = .68 ) and 58.8 % ( P = .03 ) , respectively . Fever , coughing , and rhinorrhea duration was decreased significantly , relative to placebo , by 32 % ( single strain ; P = .0023 ) and 48 % ( strain combination ; P < .001 ) . Antibiotic use incidence was reduced , relative to placebo , by 68.4 % ( single strain ; P = .0002 ) and 84.2 % ( strain combination ; P < .0001 ) . Subjects receiving probiotic products had significant reductions in days absent from group child care , by 31.8 % ( single strain ; P = .002 ) and 27.7 % ( strain combination ; P < .001 ) , compared with subjects receiving placebo treatment . CONCLUSION : Daily dietary probiotic supplementation for 6 months was a safe effective way to reduce fever , rhinorrhea , and cough incidence and duration and antibiotic prescription incidence , as well as the number of missed school days attributable to illness , for children 3 to 5 years of age
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 .