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 .
Role of short-term use of L. acidophilus DDS-1 and B. lactis UABLA-12 in acute respiratory infections in children: a randomized controlled trial
Background / Objectives : Evidence suggests that the long-term consumption of probiotics may help in reducing the incidence of or modifying  acute respiratory infection ( ARI ) . We assessed the role of the short-term use of probiotics in ARI in children . Subjects/ Methods : This was a r and omized , double-blind , controlled study that enrolled 315 children with 90 dropouts . On the first day of appearance of a sick household member , otherwise healthy children of both sexes aged 3–12 years were allocated to receive Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium lactis UABLA-12 ( Up4-Junior ) in a dose of 5 billion colony-forming units daily with 50 mg of fructooligosaccharide ( the probiotic group ) or rice maltodexrin ( the control group ) . Test supplementation and follow-up lasted for 2 weeks or until the end of the secondary ARI in a child . The primary outcome measure was the incidence of ARI . Time to resolution and the severity of ARI served the secondary outcome measures . Results : In all , 64 of 113 children in the probiotic group ( 57 % ) and 73 of 112 children in the control group ( 65 % ) developed ARI ( P=0.261 ) . Time to resolution of the secondary ARI was shorter in the probiotic group ( 5.0 ( interquartile range ( IQR ) : 4.0–6.0 ) vs 7.0 ( IQR : 6.0–8.0 ) days , P<0.001 ) . The median severity of ARI was 240 ( IQR : 163–350 ) score-days in the probiotic vs 525 ( IQR : 364–736 ) score-days in the control group ( P<0.001 ) . Conclusions : The short-term use of probiotics does not reduce the incidence , but shortens ARI in preschool and elementary school children
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 .