Probiotics are effective in alleviating infantile colic; results of a randomized controlled trial held at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Muhammad Waseem Ashraf, Saeed Bin Ayaz, Muhammad Nadeem Ashraf, Sumeera Matee, Muhammad Shoaib

Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the role of probiotics in alleviating infantile colic (IC) while targeting local population. In case of a positive outcome, its use could be suggested in pediatric health care facilities.
Methodology: It was a non-blinded randomized control trial conducted at the department of pediatrics, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi from 4th October 2012 to 3rd April 2013. Through non-probability consecutive sampling we included breast-fed infants of either sex of age 3 weeks (21 days) to 3 months (90 days) diagnosed with IC based on Wessel’s description. We divided them into two groups i.e. group-A and B who were given probiotics containing Lactobacillus reuteri and simethicone respectively.
Results: Of 90 children, 45 children were in each group. Group-A had a mean age 48 ± 17 days and group-B had a mean age 50 ± 17 days. Maximum infants were in sub-group 21 – 45 days (55.6% and 51.1% respectively) in both the groups. The male gender dominated both groups (64.4% and 57.7% respectively). Significantly large percentage (p<0.001) of infants in group-A (86.7%) reached the landmark set for the efficacy confirmation than group-B (51.1%). The mean crying time for the group-A (39 ± 53 minutes) at the end of treatment was significantly shorter (p<0.001) than that of group-B (113 ± 54 minutes).No side effect was reported in the whole sample.
Conclusion: Probiotics containing Lactobacillus reuteri significantly improved symptoms in managing IC than simethicaone with no side effects.

Key words: Infantile colic, probiotics, simethicone

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