COMPARISON OF MONOSTRAIN VS MULTISTRAIN PROBIOTICS IN ACUTE WATERY DIARRHEA IN CHILDREN

Abstract

To compare mean duration of diarrhea and mean length of hospital stay between children with acute watery diarrhea treated with monostrain versus multistrain probiotics. Place and Duration of Study: Pediatric Ward, Fauji Foundation Hospital, April to July 2026 Methodology:   total of 140 children aged 6 months to 5 years admitted with acute watery diarrhea were enrolled by non-probability consecutive sampling and allocated by lottery method into two equal groups of 70. Group received monostrain probiotic (Saccharomyces boulardii) and Group B   multistrain preparation, both alongside standard therapy of oral rehydration solution, zinc, and intravenous fluids where indicated. Children with persistent diarrhea, severe malnutrition, dysentery, or recent probiotic use were excluded. Baseline age, sex, weight, nutritional status, and degree of dehydration were recorded. Data were analyzed on SPSS version 26.0 using independent samples t-test and chi-square test, taking p < 0.05 as significant. Results: Both groups were comparable at baseline for age, weight, nutritional status, and sex distribution (p > 0.05). Mean duration of diarrhea was significantly shorter in   multistrain than   monostrain group (2.96 ± 0.88 versus 3.57 ± 1.11 days, p = 0.0005), with   moderate effect size (Cohen's d = 0.61). Mean length of hospital stay was shorter in   multistrain group but not significantly so (5.12 ± 1.59 versus 5.56 ± 1.90 days, p = 0.140). Dehydration severity at admission was independently associated with longer diarrhea duration (p = 0.018). Conclusion: Multistrain probiotic supplementation significantly shortened   duration of acute watery diarrhea compared with monostrain Saccharomyces boulardii, supporting its preferential use as   adjunct to standard rehydration therapy.