JAMA Netw Open

Probiotics reduce fever duration in children with URTIs

March 18, 2025

Probiotics could be an effective adjunctive treatment for managing fever in children with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), potentially reducing the need for additional medical interventions and improving patient outcomes.

Study details: This randomized trial, conducted at a pediatric emergency department in Milan, Italy, involved 128 children with URTIs. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a probiotic mixture containing Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, Bifidobacterium lactis HN019, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, or placebo.

Results: The probiotic group experienced a significant reduction in fever duration, with a median of 3 days compared with 5 days in the placebo group (adjusted risk ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-0.80). Few mild adverse events were reported and didn’t differ significantly between groups, including constipation (16% vs. 12%) and abdominal pain (8% vs. 4%).

Source:

Bettocchi S, et al. (2025, March 3). JAMA Netw Open. Probiotics and Fever Duration in Children With Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40085083/