Comparison of the Efficacy of Probiotics Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Children

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Dermatology Department, Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Jan to Sep2015. Methodology: A total of 170 patients with atopic dermatitis fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected. Patients were divided into two groups. The treatment Group (Group-A) received probiotics (Saccharomyces Boulardii) twice daily for six weeks. The Control Group (Group-B) received an equal volume of placebo (powdered milk without probiotics) twice a day for the same duration. Both groups were prescribed emollients as adjuvant therapy for atopic dermatitis. The treatment efficacy was assessed using the SCORAD index calculated at baseline (before starting treatment) and at the end of the study (6 weeks after treatment). Results: Clinical efficacy was seen in 51 patients (60.0%) of the Treatment-Group compared to 37 patients (43.53%) of the Control-Group at the end of six weeks of treatment. The results were statistically significant (p-value =0.03). Conclusion: Probiotics have a significant role in improving treatment outcomes in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Keywords

• Atopic dermatitis
• Children
• Management
• Probiotics
• Saccharomyces boulardii