S. boulardii Speeds Recovery in Acute Childhood Diarrhoea
Dr. Kumar’s Take
This RCT is one of the cleanest pediatric studies I’ve seen on acute infective diarrhea: children under 2 years, mild to moderate illness, treated as outpatients. S. boulardii added to ORS helped them recover about 1.5 days sooner, reduced stool frequency, and lowered the risk of prolonged diarrhea. For early intervention in young children, this is evidence you want in your toolbox.
Key Takeaways
- 100 children aged 3 to 24 months with mild‐to‐moderate diarrhea of less than 7 days duration.
- S. boulardii given for 6 days alongside oral rehydration solution (ORS).
- Mean diarrhea duration dropped from ~6.16 days (placebo) to ~4.70 days with S. boulardii.
- Stool frequency on the 4th day was significantly lower in treatment arm.
- Risk of diarrhea lasting >7 days reduced by about 75%.
Actionable Tip
For infants and toddlers (<2 years) with newly onset acute infectious diarrhea, start S. boulardii early (preferably within 48 hours), at a standard pediatric dose (250 mg twice daily or equivalent), together with ORS, for about 5‑6 days. You’ll likely see faster recovery and fewer stools by day 4.
