Comparative study on clinical efficacy of Bacillus Clausii ( Bifilac Clausi ) in the management of acute diarrhoea in children as an add on therapy with standard therapy- A randomized control study

Acute diarrhoea is defined as a change in the consistency of stool leading to loose or liquid stools and/or an increase in the frequency of evacuations to three or more in 24 hours with or without fever or vomiting lasting 7 days or less. Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of an infection in the intestinal tract, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms. It is the most common cause of mortality among under five children in developing countries. Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking water or from person-to-person as a result of poor hygiene. Diarrhoea due to infection is widespread throughout developing countries. In developing countries, children under 5 years of age experience on average three episodes of diarrhoea every year. Repeated episodes of diarrhoea in children can result in long-term deleterious effects on nutritional status, possibly due to intestinal damage. Each episode deprives the child from the basic nutrition necessary for growth. The management of acute diarrhoea consists of the replacement of lost fluid and electrolytes with oral rehydration to reduce the complications like dehydration, electrolyte disturbances and metabolic acidosis.

Probiotics are live microbial feed supplements that beneficially affect the host by improving the microbial balance. They are commonly used in the treatment and prevention of acute diarrhoea. Out of many probiotics available, Bacillus clausii is found to be beneficial in reducing intensity and duration of diarrhea in children aged 6 months to 5 years.