title: Probiotics in childhood: allergic illness and respiratory infections.
abstract: Over the last decade, there has been a growing interest in the use of probiotics for allergic diseases. In the last years, some studies showed a significant improvement for atopic eczema by the administration of probiotics during pregnancy and postnatally. About food allergy, probiotics administration seems to be effective in the management of food allergy symptoms but has no effect on the prevention of sensitization. In the international literature, there are few studies that evaluated the probiotic effect on allergic rhinitis, and authors reported that probiotics might have a beneficial effect in AR by reducing symptom severity and medication use. Another major potential benefit of probiotics has been suggested in patients with asthma. On this topic, several studies have been carried out using different probiotics and the results have not been univocal. Indeed, probiotics seems to be able to offer protection about common cold and respiratory infections in healthy and hospitalized children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, F.Fede, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. michele.miraglia@unina2.it
authors.forename: Michele Miraglia
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: del Giudice
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galdo
authors.forename: Adelmo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gubitosi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Rosa
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salpietro
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marseglia
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perrone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000628:therapy; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome