Why probiotics are good for your child’s health

Good news: taking probiotics daily may result in fewer respiratory tract infections, doctor visits, and antibiotics for your child! Evidence indicates that probiotics can help prevent childhood illnesses and alleviate symptoms linked with illnesses in children.

Here’s what the study says about probiotics and the health of your children.

Infections of the respiratory tract

Does your child frequently suffer respiratory tract infections? Children are especially vulnerable to these infections due to their underdeveloped immune systems, and parents are always looking for strategies to prevent as many coughs, colds, and sore throats as possible.

Several studies have found that probiotic supplementation reduces the number of upper respiratory tract infections in children, prompting researchers to conclude that “probiotics may play a role in the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections.”

One study of toddlers aged three to 36 months who attended daycare centres discovered that those who took a daily Lactobacillus reuteri supplement had much fewer respiratory tract infections — and those who did have these types of infections had shorter durations. These children also went to the doctor less frequently, and their parents had to take less time off from work.

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea can be caused by a variety of factors, but it is always cause for concern when it happens in young children. Lactobacillus reuteri has a function to play in reducing your children’s chances of getting diarrhoea caused by antibiotics or tummy viruses. In one study, newborns who did not get Lactobacillus reuteri supplements had considerably more diarrhoea bouts than babies who did.

Another study found that children at daycare centres who take probiotics daily are less likely to get diarrhoea. Probiotics are obviously beneficial at preventing and treating antibiotic-associated diarrhoea when taken in conjunction with antibiotics, according to studies.

Allergic reactions

Probiotics can assist to restore normal gut microbiome, enhancing your child’s gut’s immunological function, and thereby reducing inflammation caused by allergies or immune reactions. Lactobacillus reuteri has been shown in studies to modify the immune response in allergic children with asthma and to provide advantages with vitamin D in children undergoing immunotherapy.

The use of antibiotics

Giving antibiotics to your children is never fun, so we’re delighted to see that studies show that daily probiotic supplements can help minimise antibiotic use in children and babies. Indeed, this research is so promising that a recent study suggests that employing probiotics to prevent secondary infections and antibiotic prescriptions may be critical to minimising antibiotic resistance and the advent of “super bugs”!

Good to know: Reuterina Drops (for babies) and Reuterina Junior (for youngsters) are simple daily supplements containing Lactobacillus reuteri.