DefinePK

Research Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children.

Methodology

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dermatology Department of Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to September 2015. 170 children with atopic dermatitis were divided into two groups: Group-A (treatment group) received Saccharomyces Boulardii probiotics twice daily for six weeks, and Group-B (control group) received a placebo (powdered milk without probiotics) twice daily for the same duration. Both groups received emollients as adjuvant therapy. Treatment efficacy was assessed using the SCORAD index at baseline and after six weeks.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD;
    A["Recruit 170 Children with Atopic Dermatitis"] --> B["Divide into Two Groups"];
    B --> C["Group A: Probiotics Saccharomyces Boulardii Twice Daily"];
    B --> D["Group B: Placebo Twice Daily"];
    C --> E["Administer Emollients to Both Groups"];
    D --> E;
    E --> F["Measure SCORAD Index at Baseline"];
    F --> G["Administer Treatment/Placebo for 6 Weeks"];
    G --> H["Measure SCORAD Index at 6 Weeks"];
    H --> I["Analyze Data and Compare Efficacy"];
    I --> J["Draw Conclusion"];                    

Discussion

Atopic dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease in children. While traditional management includes skin care and topical corticosteroids, the search for alternative therapeutics is ongoing. Probiotics, with their immunomodulatory capacity, show promise in managing allergic disorders. This study's findings align with previous research indicating that probiotics can significantly improve the SCORAD index in children with atopic dermatitis compared to placebo.

Key Findings

Clinical efficacy was observed in 60.0% of patients in the treatment group compared to 43.53% in the control group after six weeks of treatment. This difference was statistically significant (p-value = 0.03).

Conclusion

Probiotics play a significant role in improving treatment outcomes for patients with atopic dermatitis.

Fact Check

* The study included 170 patients with atopic dermatitis. (Confirmed in Methodology and Results sections)
* The treatment duration for both probiotics and placebo was six weeks. (Confirmed in Methodology section)
* The p-value for the difference in efficacy between the treatment and control groups was 0.03. (Confirmed in Results section)

Mind Map