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2026, Vol: 10, Issue: 8
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Review Article
Online Published: 30 Aug 2026
 


Effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fahad Bin Qashan, Abdulaziz Alsahli, Khaled Alotaibi, Riyadh Al-zahrani, Rahaf Alghabban, Wateen Alahmadi, Rewa Alsharif, Shahad Alrufaydi, Sarah Aldossary, Reema Alamri, Khaled Hashim Mahmoud.


Abstract
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common side effect of antibiotic therapy in children and is mostly brought on by disruption of the gut microbiota. Probiotics have been recommended as a prophylactic intervention, although the safety and effectiveness of these treatments in young populations are still up for debate. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA standards and registered under PROSPERO (CRD420251207959), to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of probiotics in reducing antibiotic-related diarrhea in children. The electronic databases were searched. Probiotics and antibiotics were used in randomized controlled studies to prevent AAD in children aged 0 to 18. The meta-analysis produced pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) under a random-effects model using Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.3. Ten randomized controlled studies were included in the study. Probiotic use showed a non-significant tendency toward reducing the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea when compared to the control group (OR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.33-1.02; p=0.06). The significant heterogeneity (I2=71%) decreased to 43% after one study was removed from the sensitivity analysis. The absence of a significant difference in adverse effects between the probiotic and control groups (OR=0.91; 95% CI: 0.40-2.10; p=0.83) suggested a satisfactory safety profile. Probiotics had a non-significant trend in reducing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children and were found to be safe with no increase in side effects. The observed variation highlighted the need for more meticulously designed large-scale randomized trials using specific probiotic strains and defined definitions of AAD to more precisely evaluate their preventative effects.

Key words: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea, probiotics, children, pediatric, systematic review, meta-analysis


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Qashan FB, Alsahli A, Alotaibi K, Al-zahrani R, Alghabban R, Alahmadi W, Alsharif R, Alrufaydi S, Aldossary S, Alamri R, Mahmoud KH. Effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC. Online First: 30 Aug, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784926623

Web Style

Qashan FB, Alsahli A, Alotaibi K, Al-zahrani R, Alghabban R, Alahmadi W, Alsharif R, Alrufaydi S, Aldossary S, Alamri R, Mahmoud KH. Effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=328902 [Access: August 31, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784926623

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Qashan FB, Alsahli A, Alotaibi K, Al-zahrani R, Alghabban R, Alahmadi W, Alsharif R, Alrufaydi S, Aldossary S, Alamri R, Mahmoud KH. Effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC. Online First: 30 Aug, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784926623


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Qashan FB, Alsahli A, Alotaibi K, Al-zahrani R, Alghabban R, Alahmadi W, Alsharif R, Alrufaydi S, Aldossary S, Alamri R, Mahmoud KH. Effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC, [cited August 31, 2026]; Online First: 30 Aug, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784926623


Harvard Style

Qashan, F. B., Alsahli, . A., Alotaibi, . K., Al-zahrani, . R., Alghabban, . R., Alahmadi, . W., Alsharif, . R., Alrufaydi, . S., Aldossary, . S., Alamri, . R. & Mahmoud, . K. H. (2026) Effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC, Online First: 30 Aug, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784926623


Turabian Style

Qashan, Fahad Bin, Abdulaziz Alsahli, Khaled Alotaibi, Riyadh Al-zahrani, Rahaf Alghabban, Wateen Alahmadi, Rewa Alsharif, Shahad Alrufaydi, Sarah Aldossary, Reema Alamri, and Khaled Hashim Mahmoud. 2026. Effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 30 Aug, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784926623


Chicago Style

Qashan, Fahad Bin, Abdulaziz Alsahli, Khaled Alotaibi, Riyadh Al-zahrani, Rahaf Alghabban, Wateen Alahmadi, Rewa Alsharif, Shahad Alrufaydi, Sarah Aldossary, Reema Alamri, and Khaled Hashim Mahmoud. "Effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 30 Aug, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784926623


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Qashan, Fahad Bin, Abdulaziz Alsahli, Khaled Alotaibi, Riyadh Al-zahrani, Rahaf Alghabban, Wateen Alahmadi, Rewa Alsharif, Shahad Alrufaydi, Sarah Aldossary, Reema Alamri, and Khaled Hashim Mahmoud. "Effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries Online First: 30 Aug, 2026. Web. 31 Aug 2026 doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784926623


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Qashan, F. B., Alsahli, . A., Alotaibi, . K., Al-zahrani, . R., Alghabban, . R., Alahmadi, . W., Alsharif, . R., Alrufaydi, . S., Aldossary, . S., Alamri, . R. & Mahmoud, . K. H. (2026) Effectiveness of probiotics in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, Online First: 30 Aug, 2026. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1784926623




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