Conclusions The current evidence is not sufficiently strong to verify a preventive role of probiotics in AR , but probiotics may improve the overall quality of life and nasal symptom scores .
Background Allergic rhinitis ( AR ) is a disease of respiratory allergy , and probiotics can provide a potential strategy for its management .
The purpose of this study was to carry out a systematic review to investigate the role of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of AR .
Probiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4-year follow-up of a randomised placebo-controlled trial
Perinatal administration of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG ( ATCC 53103 ) , reduces incidence of atopic eczema in at-risk children during the first 2 years of life ( infancy ) . We have therefore assessed persistence of the potential to prevent atopic eczema at 4 years . Atopic disease was diagnosed on the basis of a question naire and a clinical examination . 14 of 53 children receiving lactobacillus had developed atopic eczema , compared with 25 of 54 receiving placebo  ( relative risk 0.57 , 95 % CI 0.33 - 0.97 ) . Skin prick test reactivity was the same in both groups : ten of 50 children previously given lactobacillus compared with nine of 50 given placebo tested positive . Our results suggest that the preventive effect of lactobacillus GG on atopic eczema extends beyond infancy
Conclusions The current evidence is not sufficiently strong to verify a preventive role of probiotics in AR , but probiotics may improve the overall quality of life and nasal symptom scores .
Background Allergic rhinitis ( AR ) is a disease of respiratory allergy , and probiotics can provide a potential strategy for its management .
The purpose of this study was to carry out a systematic review to investigate the role of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of AR .