Only Lactobacillus GG showed a consistent effect .
There is evidence of a clinical ly significant benefit of probiotics in the treatment of  acute infectious diarrhea in infants and children , particularly in rotaviral gastroenteritis .
Lactobacillus GG showed the most consistent effect , although other probiotic strains may also be effective .
Clinical and statistical heterogeneity of the prophylactic interventions preclude drawing firm conclusions about the efficacy of probiotics in preventing acute gastroenteritis
BACKGROUND This review was design ed to assess the evidence from r and omized controlled trials on effects of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of acute infectious diarrhea in infants and children .
A placebo-controlled trial of Lactobacillus GG to prevent diarrhea in undernourished Peruvian children.
OBJECTIVE Lactobacillus GG ( L-GG ) , an acid- and bile-resistant strain that colonizes the intestinal mucosa , has been used to manage diarrhea in children . Our objective was to evaluate the prophylactic use of L-GG to prevent diarrhea in children at high risk from a developing country in a r and omized , placebo-controlled trial . STUDY DESIGN Two hundred four undernourished children 6 to 24 months old from an indigent peri-urban Peruvian town received either L-GG or placebo in flavored gelatin once daily , 6 days a week , for 15 months . Episodes of diarrhea were documented by daily home visits , and diagnostic studies were done in a subset of cases . Recovery of L-GG in stool from subjects and from family contacts was examined . RESULTS Subjects in the L-GG group had significantly fewer episodes of diarrhea ( 5.21 episodes diarrhea/child/year [ ' ecy ' ] L-GG group , 6 . 02 ecy placebo group ; P = .028 ) . The decreased incidence of diarrhea in the L-GG group was greatest in the 18- to 29-month age group ( P = . 004 ) and was largely limited to nonbreastfed children ( Breastfed : 6 . 59 ecy L-GG , 6.32 ecy placebo , P = .7 ; Nonbreastfed : 4.69 ecy L-GG , 5 . 86 ecy placebo , P = .005 ) . The duration of diarrhea episodes and the causes of diarrhea were similar in both groups , except adenovirus was more common in the placebo group . CONCLUSION L-GG supplementation may be useful as a prophylactic measure to control diarrhea in undernourished children at increased risk , especially nonbreastfed children in the toddler age group
Only Lactobacillus GG showed a consistent effect .
There is evidence of a clinical ly significant benefit of probiotics in the treatment of  acute infectious diarrhea in infants and children , particularly in rotaviral gastroenteritis .
Lactobacillus GG showed the most consistent effect , although other probiotic strains may also be effective .
Clinical and statistical heterogeneity of the prophylactic interventions preclude drawing firm conclusions about the efficacy of probiotics in preventing acute gastroenteritis
BACKGROUND This review was design ed to assess the evidence from r and omized controlled trials on effects of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of acute infectious diarrhea in infants and children .