Age-stratified Evaluation Of Saccharomyces boulardii In A Pediatric Randomized Controlled Trial And Adult Observational Study of Infectious Enteritis.

Infectious enteritis remains a significant global health burden, particularly among children under five years of age. Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii), a probiotic yeast, has been widely studied for its role in reducing diarrhea; however, direct comparisons of its effects across age groups remain limited. This study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of S. boulardii in pediatric and adult patients with infectious enteritis. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 186 children with acute diarrhea, while a retrospective observational study included 270 adult patients. All participants received standard rehydration therapy; the intervention groups additionally received S. boulardii. The primary outcome was diarrhea duration. Secondary outcomes included stool frequency, length of hospital stay, recurrence rate, and adverse events. In pediatric patients, S. boulardii significantly reduced diarrhea duration (2.1 vs. 3.9 days in rotavirus-positive cases), hospital stay (3.2 vs. 4.8 days), and stool frequency (4.2 vs. 6.7 stools/day) compared to placebo (all p < 0.05). In adult patients, S. boulardii was associated with shorter diarrhea duration (2.7 vs. 5.4 days), reduced hospital stay (3.6 vs. 5.2 days), higher symptom resolution rates (77.8% vs. 15.8%), and lower recurrence (8.1% vs. 21.7%; all p < 0.01). Adverse events were mild and comparable between groups. S. boulardii appears to be a safe and effective adjunct therapy for infectious enteritis, with age-related differences in clinical outcomes. S. boulardii appears to be a safe and effective adjunct therapy for infectious enteritis in both pediatric and adult populations. Within each cohort, improvements were observed in clinical outcomes, including diarrhea duration, hospitalization, and recurrence. Observed differences between pediatric and adult cohorts are descriptive and reflect separate analyses conducted under different study designs; therefore, no direct statistical comparisons between age groups were performed.