Excerpt from Research Paper :

The placebo group's mean crying time went down from a mean of 300 minutes per day to 90 minutes per day. Stool examination also demonstrated a considerable decrease in the occurrence of E. coli among infants who got the Lactobacillus reuteri drops. Researchers considered that babies in the placebo group may have had an advancement since of reduced cow's milk in the mother's diet (Probiotic may soothe colicky babies, 2010). On the whole, the conclusions sustain the idea that Lactobacillus reuteri may aid in reducing colic symptoms by making better gut motility and function, which in turn could decrease gas in the gastrointestinal tract and abdominal pain and cramping. Simultaneously, Lactobacillus reuteri seems to reduce levels of harmful E. coli (Probiotic may soothe colicky babies, 2010).

Possible Adverse Reactions

Probiotics are significant not only for good absorption, but also as a first line of immune protection. They also help sustain one's body so they don't develop either seasonal, environmental, or food allergies. Additionally, the side effects of antibiotic therapy can include:

itchy skin or rashes diarrhea and other digestive issues yeast infections nausea and dizziness dry eyes (Joel, 2010).

Even though extraordinary, there have been a number of reports of bacteremia connected with preferred probiotic bacteria. Endocarditis, pneumonia, and meningitis have very infrequently been reported in connection with lactobacilli, and extraordinary reports have been acknowledged with B. eriksonii. No other study done with bifidobacteria or B. lactis has demonstrated any unfavorable events. The majority of these isolated reports, on the other hand, were in considerably compromised hosts, and we are not conscious of any illnesses ever reported with other bifidobacteria or S.thermophilus (Saavedra, Abi-Hanna, Moore and Yolken, 2004).

An augment in stomach gas or bloating sometimes occurs with the utilization of Lactobacillus reuteri. If this result continues or gets worse, one should tell their doctor or pharmacist right away. They should tell their doctor right away if any of these doubtful but severe side effects take place: symptoms of infection including such things as high fever, chills, or a persistent cough. A very severe allergic reaction to probiotics is uncommon. Yet, one should get immediate medical advice if they see any of the following signs of a serious allergic reaction: rash, itching or swelling, especially of the face, tongue or throat, severe dizziness or difficulty breathing (Lactobacillus Reuteri Oral, 2010).

Interaction with other Medications or Treatments

Probiotics are thought to be fairly safe. There have been isolated reports connecting probiotics to unfavorable reactions but to date there are none that have been well acknowledged (Probiotics, 2010). The results of some drugs can alter if one takes other drugs or herbal products simultaneously. This can augment one's risk for severe side effects or may cause some drugs not to work the right way. These drug relations are possible, but do not always happen. One's doctor or pharmacist can frequently avoid or manage interactions by altering how one uses their drugs or by close observation. In order to aid a doctor and pharmacist to give one the best care, it is important that patients be sure to tell their doctor and pharmacist about all the things they use including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products prior to beginning therapy with probiotics. While utilizing probiotics, one should not begin, end or alter the amount of any additional drugs they are utilizing without their doctor's consent. A number of medications that may interact with certain probiotics include: antibiotics, antifungals, such as clotrimazole, ketoconazole, griseofulvin and nystatin (Lactobacillus Reuteri Oral, 2010).

Theoretical Basis

A healthy digestive tract in made up of about 400 different types of probiotic bacteria, with an ultimate ratio of 85% friendly bacteria to 15% unfriendly bacteria. This amount will avert the gut from being infested by disease-causing bacteria. In the majority of people, this ratio is off, often as much as 85/15 in favor of the bad bacteria. The illnesses potentially linked to this inequity comprise infectious diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, chronic stomach irritation, tooth decay and periodontal disease, vaginal infections, stomach and respiratory disease, and skin disease. In the early phases of bacterial inequity, warning signs can comprise extreme gas, bloating, constipation, intestinal toxicity, and poor nutrient incorporation (Your Baby and Probiotics, 2010).

Supporters of probiotics think that supplementation can help reinstate the healthy 85/15 ratio, resulting in stronger digestive and immune systems. Probiotic supplements are thought to be safe, given that they include the same bacterial matters that are already present in the intestinal tract. It is believed that more research is needed, and it is recommended that one consult their doctor before they or their baby...

The affirmative results of this probiotic on intestinal illnesses such as constipation and diarrhea and in protection from infection, as well as its ability to modulate immune responses; has also been shown (Savino, Pelle, Palumeri, Oggero and Miniero, 2007).
Microbial stimulation throughout the first months of life adjusts immune reactions, influencing the development of acceptance to ubiquitous allergens. The intestinal microflora may play a particular role in this respect, because it is the chief external driving power in maturation of the immune system after birth. These researchers tested the hypothesis that modulating the gut microflora of colicky infants by way of the oral administration of probiotics would reduce crying time connected to infantile colic (Savino, Pelle, Palumeri, Oggero and Miniero, 2007).

Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations

Recent research has suggested that colic may be linked to an immature immune system struggling with bacterial inequity in the gastrointestinal tract, and those high levels of E. coli bacteria in particular may add to colic signs. Some researchers question whether symptoms could be lessened using probiotic therapy, or healthy bacteria to re-establish bacterial equilibrium in the gut. Research findings sustain the belief that Lactobacillus reuteri may help decrease colic symptoms by improving gut motility and function, which could lessen gas in the gastrointestinal tract and abdominal pain and cramping. At the same time, Lactobacillus reuteri seems to decrease levels of harmful E. coli (Woznicki, 2010).

Patient Education

In the United States, most probiotics are sold as dietary supplements, which do not go through the testing and endorsement processes that drugs do. Manufacturers are accountable for ensuring they're safe before they're marketplace and that any statements made on the label are factual. But there's no assurance that the kinds of bacteria listed on a label are effectual for the condition that they are being taken for. Health benefits are strain-specific, and not all strains are essentially useful, so one may want to talk with a health care provider familiar with probiotics in order to talk about their choices (Health benefits of taking probiotics, 2005).

Probiotics are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration since they are thought to be nutritional supplements. Nevertheless, the FDA and the World Health Organization have published rules for the assessment of probiotics in food, a document that specifies how bacteria are to be measured and recognized in consumer goods. Patients should read food labels for specific information and get probiotic supplements only from a supplier that they think to be reputable (Intro to Probiotic Therapy, 2010).

Conclusions

I think that probiotics should be used to treat Infantile Colic. Due to the fact that there is currently no standard recommended treatment for colic and because so many children suffer with in on a daily basis, this alternative treatment should be utilized whenever it can be. Research has shown that there are no real side effects of probiotics and they don't seem to have any adverse interactions with other medications, there is no reason why this treatment method should not be used. There are so many babies and families that suffer with colic everyday and with no standard treatment in main stream medicine this alternative method of treatment should be investigated and used whenever possible.

Infantile Colic can be such a frustrating time for both an infant and a family that if there is a treatment available that has not harmful side effects and has been proven to reduce the symptoms of this illness then it should be used. There are many alternative treatments that are used every day to treat all kinds of diseases and illness. As long as it is safe there is no reason why health care providers should be utilizing it more often.