Published on: 5/21/2025
Can Probiotics Be Effective in Treating Diarrhea?
Probiotics can help treat diarrhea, especially when caused by infections, by restoring good bacteria in the gut.
Explanation
Probiotics are live bacteria that are good for your gut health. They can help treat diarrhea, especially when it is caused by infections. Research shows that probiotics can shorten the duration of diarrhea and make it less severe.
How Probiotics Help:
- Restoring Balance: When you have diarrhea, the balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut is upset. Probiotics help restore this balance by adding more good bacteria.
- Fighting Infections: Some probiotics can fight off the bad bacteria or viruses causing the diarrhea.
Types of Diarrhea:
- Acute Infectious Diarrhea: Probiotics are particularly effective in treating diarrhea caused by infections, like from viruses or bacteria.
- Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea: They can also help when diarrhea happens after taking antibiotics, which can kill both good and bad bacteria.
Overall, using probiotics can be a safe and helpful way to manage diarrhea, but it's always good to talk to a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment.
(References)
- Guarino A, Guandalini S, & Lo Vecchio A. (2015). Probiotics for Prevention and Treatment of Diarrhea. Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 26447963.
- Collinson S, Deans A, Padua-Zamora A, Gregorio GV, Li C, Dans LF, & Allen SJ. (2020). Probiotics for treating acute infectious diarrhoea. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 33295643.
- Wilkins T, & Sequoia J. (2017). Probiotics for Gastrointestinal Conditions: A Summary of .... American family physician, 28762696.
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