Q: Dr. Bill, I have been reading about  Probiotics for imminuty for adults but can kids take  them. Good Belly was  one brand mentioned on this site and it is also a  multivitamin. Can I give  this to my 7 year old?
A: Dear Nancy, Your question is very relevant to the current discussions concerning pediatric health. Over the past few years, more and more products have become available to the general public containing “probiotics.” Probiotics are actually special bacteria (typically a lactobacillus species) that have been shown to help the body in some way. The most common use is to help treat various forms of diarrhea and to help bolster gut and respiratory immunity. Now, more studies are showing that they also help with other illnesses, like irritable bowel syndrome, urinary tract infections, eczema, and asthma.

Many people aren’t aware that our gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts depend on beneficial microorganisms to bolster our immunity and help digest our food. So it’s unfortunate that sometimes when doctors put our patients on antibiotics, we inadvertently kill off the good “bugs,” which then creates unwanted problems like diarrhea and yeast infections. Whenever my daughter gets diarrhea, I usually try to get her to eat some yogurt to help control the loose stools. When babies are born, they have “sterile” guts and depend on their mother’s milk to provide the needed bacteria to colonize their intestines.

There are a growing number of products available that supply some form of probiotic. You can find them in various forms: yogurt, infant formula, special liquids, dry packets, tablets, and embedded in straws. There is even an infant formula that contains “prebiotics” (food for the probiotics). The most well-known brands for probiotics are Activia and DanActive. I’m also familiar with a drink that uses a probiotic embedded straw called Essentially Kids, Lactinex tabs, or BioGaia (which comes in drops, straws, and chew tabs). There are more brands appearing every day as companies compete to get their share of this new market. Before probiotics came on the scene, I usually advised my parents to give their kids either acidophilus milk or yogurt with active cultures to help reduce their diarrhea and/or yeast infections. Now I’m recommending probiotic products to many of my patients who are as young as one.
Regarding the amount to give, most products specifically made for children will have some sort of dosing labeling. When using adult products, usually a half dose is enough.

As newer products appear on the market, they will probably be a combination of probiotic and prebiotic. Usually the effects of probiotics are temporary, and you’ll need to take routine doses to maintain good levels of them in your system. For more info about probiotics, visit www.AAP.org, or talk with your pediatrician. Good luck!
Dr. Bill