Clinical Trial: Probiotics for Infectious Diarrhea in Children in South India

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Probiotics for Infectious Diarrhea in Children in South India

Brief Summary:

The overall goal of this study is to investigate whether the modulatory effects of probiotics, which are used as food supplements (Lactobacillus GG marketed as Culturelle or yoghurt) in the gastrointestinal tract promote restoration of intestinal function and enhance the specific immune response in children with cryptosporidial or rotaviral infections in South India. Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium spp. are the most important viral and parasitic causes of gastroenteritis in children in south India. Both infections can lead to severe dehydrating gastroenteritis in young children and have no specific treatment. Repeated episodes of diarrhea can result in long term deleterious effects on nutritional status, possibly due to intestinal damage. Most episodes of infectious gastroenteritis resolve without specific therapy, the mainstay of treatment being rehydration. However, oral rehydration remains under-utilized, in part due to the lack of effect on frequency of bowel movements and duration of illness. Due to the interest in simple, safe and effective measures to ameliorate the long-term effects of diarrheal illness, there is a growing appreciation for the potential of certain microorganisms to offer direct benefits to the health of a host. Probiotics are known to beneficially modulate several host functions, the most important of which are immune responses and intestinal barrier integrity. The investigators propose to build on the investigators previous collaborative efforts to conduct pilot studies to provide a mechanistic understanding of the effect of probiotic supplementation in children with rotaviral and cryptosporidial diarrhea.

Based on the established efficacy of LGG for the treatment of a variety of diarrheal diseases and the documented modulation of immune responses and strengthening of intestinal epithelial barrier function by probiotics, the investigators propose t

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

Current Primary Outcome: IgG To Rotavirus VP6 Or Cryptosporidial Gp15 [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: lactulose:mannitol test [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

Dates:
Date Received: May 25, 2010
Date Started: May 2010
Date Completion:
Last Updated: February 2, 2015
Last Verified: February 2015