Comparing Standard Fluid Therapy along with Yoghurt Drink (Dough) or Yoghurt in Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in 1- to 5-Year-Old Children

Acute diarrhea is one of the most important health issues in developing countries. Yogurt drink (Dough) is used in home remedies and some medical advice as a useful ingredient in treating dehydration and diarrhea; but no controlled studies have been conducted in this regard. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of fluid therapy along with dough or yogurt in the treatment of acute diarrhea in children.

In this randomized clinical trial study, 210 children aged 1-5 years with acute diarrhea, who were admitted to Taleghani hospital in Gorgan, Iran, were entered. The first group received low-fat yogurt, and the second group received dough, which the volume was three times the volume of yogurt in the first group. The third group was control group. Standard fluid therapy groups had done for all patients. Decrease in diarrhea frequency and hospitalization in these three groups were compared.

The highest reduction in diarrhea was in yogurt group with an average of 6.144, and the lowest in dough group with a mean of 5.344 (P = 0.108). After controlling the effect of the severity of the disease, the dough-receiving group had the longest hospitalization time, and this difference was significant.

The results of this study showed that the use of dough and yogurt, along with fluid therapy, did not reduce the frequency of acute diarrhea and duration of admission in children under five years of age. Further research with higher sample sizes and the implicating probiotic drinks along with dough seems necessary. Due to the small number of studies in this issue and the result of the present study, at present dough cannot be recommended as an effective agent in the treatment of diarrhea.