The Effect of Probiotics on Reducing Duration of Hospitalization in Infants with Indirect Hyperbilirubinemia

Hamed, Amira Mohammed Mohammed; Abdelmeguid, Mona Mohamed; Omar, Shehab Ahmed Abdel Maksoud

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2019.64968

The Effect of Probiotics on Reducing Duration of Hospitalization in Infants with Indirect Hyperbilirubinemia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University

² Department of clinical pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University

³ 1Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University

10.21608/ejhm.2019.64968

Abstract

Background: In recent years, the tendency to use drugs has been increasing in the treatment of neonatal jaundice. Several drugs have been used since then, but the effect of probiotics on serum bilirubin level (SBL) is not so clear. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of probiotics on SBL and the duration of phototherapy in term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of probiotics on neonatal jaundice in reducing hospitalization duration. Patients and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, we studied 100 term neonate with jaundice hospitalized for phototherapy in AL Azhar Hospital, during August 2017 till January 2018. Eligible neonates were randomly divided into two groups; probiotic group and control group. Both groups received standard conventional phototherapy, but the intervention group received sachet on 10 ml of probiotic containing formula until hospital discharge. The outcome variables were SBL and the duration of phototherapy. Results: The 1st group had a significantly lower hospitalization stay in comparison to the 2nd group. The first group showed 3.34 ± 0.70 days and the second group showed 3.7 ± 0.74. Conclusion: Oral probiotics in neonates with jaundice have significant effect on SBL and the duration of phototherapy. Further studies are needed with longer time follow up.

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