Effect of probiotics on duration of acute febrile illness in hospitalized pediatric patients, randomized, double blind placebo controlled study.

Acute febrile illnesses (AFIs) are a major cause of pediatric hospital admissions worldwide, leading to prolonged stays and high healthcare costs. While supportive and antimicrobial care are standard, probiotics—known for their immune and gut-modulating properties—may help shorten illness duration. However, hospital-based evidence in children remains limited.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of probiotics on the duration of acute febrile illness in hospitalized children (1–18 years). Fifty participants will be randomized into two groups:

Intervention group: receiving a probiotic mixture (Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bacillus coagulans, and Saccharomyces boulardii).Control group: receiving an identical placebo (maltodextrin).

Primary outcomes: fever duration and total illness duration. Secondary outcome: any adverse effects.

Eligible children are those hospitalized with AFI and without chronic or immunosuppressive conditions. The study will run for six months after ethics approval, with no external funding or follow-up period.

This study seeks to fill an important research gap by providing evidence on whether probiotic supplementation can safely and effectively reduce fever duration and recovery time in hospitalized pediatric patients.