The Effect of Yogurt on Acute Diarrhea Treatment in 6-24 Month-Old Infants

Yogurt is recommended as a treatment for acute diarrhea. This study was conducted to determine the effect of pasteurized yogurt consumption on acute non-bloody and non-mucoid diarrhea in hospitalized 6-24 month old infants as compared with that of routine treatment. In a clinical trial study 80 children with 6 to 24 months of age with diarrhea for less than four days and were hospitalized in Urmia Imam Hospital, were assigned into two groups. The first group consumed yogurt containing streptococcus thermophilus and lactobacillus bullgaris 5 ml/kg per day while the second group received the routine treatment. Those suffering from malnutrition, bloody stool and diarrhea without GI source were excluded. Reduction of diarrhea frequency to half compared to admission time was regarded as response to treatment. Weight gaining, duration of admission and reduction of diarrhea frequency were compared in two groups. The two groups were not significantly different in terms of age, weight and frequency of diarrhea at the time of admission. Mean hospitalization days, weight gaining, reduction of diarrhea frequency were 2.7±0.91 days, 435± 89.30 grams, and 4.30±1.74 times respectively for case group and, 3.1± 0.74 days, 383 ± 98.96 grams, and 3.60±1.23 times for control group respectively. No significant differences were observed between two groups regarding mean hospitalization days (P=0.035), reduction of diarrhea frequency (P=0.049) and weight gain (P= 0.017). Consuming pasteurized yogurt as a probiotic agent has a positive effect in treatment of acute nonbloody and nonmucoid diarrhea. Public use of yogurt is recommended.