Most likely, kids are going to get diarrhea, either through poor hygiene, foods that don’t agree with them, contaminated water, viruses or intestinal diseases. While most diarrhea passes in a day or two, more serious cases can result in dehydration, malnourishment and even death—particularly in third-world countries.

A group of Italian scientists has discovered a potential solution for acute diarrhea. In a study published in August 2012 in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, the researchers found that probiotic supplements significantly lowered the frequency and duration of diarrhea attacks in infants and toddlers. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in our guts and aid digestion and other gastrointestinal processes.

The study included 74 children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years who were hospitalized with acute watery diarrhea and dehydration. One group of kids received 100 million colony-forming units of a probiotic bacteria called Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 four times a day, while the other group took a placebo. Three days later, 45 percent of the children in the probiotic group still had diarrhea, compared to 74 percent of those in the placebo group. Overall, diarrhea duration averaged 2.1 days for the kids who took probiotics, and 3.3 days for those who didn’t.

In addition, the probiotics group had a 15 percent rate of diarrhea relapse, compared to 42 percent in the placebo group. The researchers noted that there were no adverse effects associated with the probiotics, which is important because common over-the-counter diarrhea medications like Imodium and Kaopectate contain substances (ioperamide and bismuth subsalicylate) that can cause numerous side effects, including severe allergic reactions.

While this study focused on acute diarrhea, Wellness Times advisor Matt Baral, ND, points out that probiotics can be beneficial for less severe cases as well. “It is clear from the abundance of research that already exists that probiotics are extremely helpful for diarrhea,” says Baral, who is chairman of the Department of Pediatric Medicine at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. “They are helpful as a preventative measure as well as a treatment for mild-to-severe acute and chronic diarrhea cases.”

Noting that “L. reuteri is one of the many beneficial bacteria that is available from supplement companies over the counter,” Baral says he recommends that virtually all children take it regularly to prevent diarrhea, especially if they weren’t breastfed.

Want to learn more about the power of probiotics? Listen to Probiotics 101: Getting to Know the Good Bug.