Probiotic boosters shorten fever duration in pediatric trial

Medical Xpress / JAMA Network Open ^ | March 20, 2025 | Justin Jackson / Silvia Bettocchi et al

[ConservativeMind]

A clinical trial led by researchers found a probiotic mixture that significantly shortened fever duration in children with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Children who received a probiotic mixture containing Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, Bifidobacterium lactis HN019, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 experienced a median fever reduction of two days compared to those given a placebo.

Upper respiratory tract infections are among the most common illnesses affecting young children. Reports indicate that children typically experience five to eight URTIs per year, particularly in the first five years of life.

Current symptom management through antipyretics, such as acetaminophen (paracetamol), can temporarily lower body temperature without reducing fever duration. Probiotics have shown potential in modulating immune responses, yet limited clinical evidence exists regarding their role in treating respiratory infections in children.

In the study, researchers conducted a triple-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial to evaluate whether a probiotic mixture could reduce fever duration in children with URTIs.

Enrollment took place at a pediatric emergency department in Milan, involving children aged 28 days to 4 years with fever (≥38.5°C) and URTIs. Intention-to-treat analysis included 87 children who received either the probiotic mixture for 14 days (n = 37) or a placebo (n = 50).

Results indicated that children in the probiotic group experienced a significantly shorter fever duration than those in the placebo group. The median fever duration was 3 days in the probiotic group compared to 5 days in the placebo group.

Poisson regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, and antibiotic intake, demonstrated that probiotic supplementation was associated with a fever duration risk ratio of 0.64. Adverse events, including constipation and abdominal pain, were infrequent and similar between both groups. No significant effects were observed on antibiotic prescription rates or the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and no meaningful safety concerns were identified.

[ConservativeMind]

Fever reduction of two days was reported in children taking “Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, Bifidobacterium lactis HN019, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001.” These specific sub-strains may not be in an available probiotic yogurt, kefir, or children’s supplement, but Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus are commonly available. In fact, I just checked and even Lifeway Kefir has these, plus Reuteri, which is also known as a great probiotic culture.

This combination could also possibly help adults, in my humble opinion.

[ConservativeMind]

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[logi_cal869]

You don’t say.

/s

[BipolarBob]

Certain Belgium beers contain probiotics. Just sayin'. Food for thought fevers.

[whitney69]

My how time flies. Each one of these contails contains DNA of parts of the illness coming from the host used. That was the biggest complaint and excuse for not using the covid vaccines, which wasn’t true.

wy69