This refers to IAP Guidelines 2004 and 2006 on Management of Acute Diarrhea (1,2).

The stand of Task Force on Probiotics needs some clarification. The group stated that there is presently insufficient evidence to recommend probiotics in the treatment of acute diarrhea in our setting. As reasons for this stand four points from the 1st Consensus Statement are cited. Under new point 5 it is stated: There is an urgent need to study the following issues before probiotics may be considered for treatment of diarrhea.

My dilemma is: Should I prescribe probiotics or wait for some more years when IAP Task Force provides us guidelines after conducting a nation-wide study on probiotics, because, results obtained in one region may not be applicable to the children in the other regions.

Yash Paul,
AD-7, Devi Marg,
Bani Park, Jaipur-302 016, India
E-mail: [email protected]