What probiotics are best when taking antibiotics? What probiotics are best for children?

Almost all of us have taken antibiotics in our lives. Their doctors usually prescribe after surgery to prevent the development of complications. Treatment of infectious diseases is also not without this group of drugs.

Many probably noticed changes in their condition during antibiotic treatment and, above all, this concerns the digestive tract. Dysbiosis develops, the general condition worsens. This is because the medicine destroys not only harmful microorganisms, but also beneficial microflora, without which normal digestion is impossible.

That's why the doctor, when prescribing antibiotics, will advise you to take probiotic cultures. The question is which probiotics are better. We will try to answer it in our article.

What are probiotics

We can say that these are microorganisms that, entering our body, inhibit the development of pathogenic microbes. These drugs contribute to the population of our digestive tract with living microorganisms.

Some will ask a reasonable question about why we need them. The fact is that our body has trillions of cells in its composition, and of this huge amount, more than 80% are not in the body cells, but on the very bacterial ones. Most often they are inhabitants of the intestine. They are directly involved in digestion, especially fiber, contribute to the elimination of toxic waste, produce some vitamins, such as B ₁₂ . What probiotics are best when taking antibiotics, your doctor may advise you.

Probiotic Requirements

In any pharmacy, the list of such drugs is quite extensive. Their cost varies widely. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, you need to know the requirements that probiotics must meet:

1. Microorganisms included in the drug should not be dangerous to humans, not pathogenic and living.
2. It is desirable that the drug has an acid resistant capsule. In extreme cases, strains of microorganisms must withstand the effects of acid in the stomach.
3. Bacterial cells must attach well to the walls of the intestine and multiply rapidly.

Most often, such preparations include 8 species and 5 strains of lactobacilli, 2 strains of bifidobacteria, streptomycetes and some others. All of them are completely safe for humans, even useful. In the manufacture of modern probiotics, E. coli is no longer used.

The functions of probiotic preparations

If you are wondering which probiotics are best to drink, then the answer depends on your condition and preferences. Quality drugs perform their functions regardless of their value. And there are a lot of them:

1. Microorganisms provide invaluable assistance in digestion.
2. Bacteria produce a number of enzymes.
3. Take part in maintaining water-salt metabolism.
4. Synthesize vitamins, hormones.
5. Help neutralize toxic substances.
6. Fight food allergens.
7. They counteract cancer cells.
8. Help protect against pathogens and viruses.
9. With their help, trace elements and vitamins are better absorbed.

Such a large list of useful functions should probably not leave unanswered the question of which probiotics are better. All of them are quite useful.

Generations of Probiotics

In medical practice, only those probiotic preparations are used that have gone through a series of studies and have proven to be highly effective.

How to choose probiotics? Which are the best of them? To answer these questions, you should familiarize yourself with several of their varieties. Nowadays, several generations of pribiotics are distinguished, which differ not only in the species composition of bacteria, but also in their number.

1. First generation. Such drugs in their composition have only one type of microorganism.
2. Second generation. Representatives are Bactisubil, Biosporin. They are part of a group of self-eliminating antagonists.
3. Third generation. In its composition it has several varieties of beneficial microorganisms, and some also various biological additives that make bacteria more active. These drugs include: “Linex”, “Bifiform”, “Acipol”.
4. Fourth generation. These probiotics contain living microorganisms that perfectly take root in the normal intestinal microflora. For example, "Probifor", "Bifidumbacterin."

Now you know how these drugs differ among themselves, and easily determine which probiotics are best taken.

Indications for the use of probiotics

It turns out that taking these drugs is shown not only as a restorative therapy during treatment with antibacterial drugs, but also with many other problems. Repeated studies have been conducted that have proven the effectiveness of probiotics in the following diseases and conditions:

• Dysbacteriosis and dysbiosis in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Colpitis.
• Preparing pregnant women for childbirth.
• Prematurity of the child.
• Intestinal infections.
• Giardiasis, parasitosis.
• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Constipation
• Gastritis and ulcers.
• Allergic problems.
• Recovery after chemotherapy.
• High blood pressure.
• Diabetes.

The list could be continued, but probably this is enough to convince you of the benefits of probiotics. But about what probiotics are better when taking antibiotics in your case, consult your doctor. He will help you choose the drug.

Probiotics for children

The children's body is quite susceptible to various infections, so antibiotic treatment has to be used often. As a result, there is a violation of microflora, digestive upset. Therefore, the question of which probiotics is better for a child is quite relevant.

Taking drugs in this group for babies is required during antibiotic treatment. This will not only restore the normal composition of bacteria, but also normalize digestion processes.

As probiotics are used, bloating, bowel pain, constipation, or diarrhea disappear. Usually, in childhood, “Linex”, “Lactovit Forte”, “Bifidumbacterin” are prescribed.

Drugs can be produced in various forms. What probiotics are best for newborns, the doctor will tell you.

Probiotics for the baby

When a child is born, his intestines are sterile. The population of various microorganisms is gradual. In the process of labor, when the baby is born, he can receive both beneficial and harmful bacteria from his mother .

If there are no deviations, then at a weekly age a full microflora is formed in the intestines of the baby. In the case of serious infectious diseases, which the child can catch in the maternity hospital, the microflora can be disturbed, which has not yet managed to form. In these cases, probiotic preparations are required. Which probiotic is best for infants, it is advisable to find out from the attending physician, it is not necessary to give such medicines without a recommendation, so as not to harm the fragile body.

For very little crumbs, they usually write "Biogai" in drops or "Beefiform Baby". They can be safely given to children from the first days of their lives. They perfectly normalize the microflora and facilitate the general condition.

Since the children's body does not yet have a strengthened immune system, the intake of live microorganisms is very important. How to choose probiotics for such a baby? Which are better for children? To answer these questions, it is worth considering their resistance to hydrochloric acid of the stomach. Because most bacteria never enter the intestines. Among all the drugs that are recommended for children, the most stable was Bifiform.

After a course of taking antibiotics, it is necessary to choose probiotics taking into account the number of microorganisms. Since antibacterial drugs practically destroy the entire intestinal microflora, the probiotic complex should be quite powerful.

Not always the amount of bacteria that is indicated on the package is actually present. After much research, it was possible to find out that many drugs do not meet the stated indicators. So how do you choose probiotics which are better? The reviews indicate that the most bona fide manufacturers were those that produce:

• Beefiform.
• "Biogai."
• "Lacromoon."
• "Simbifer".

Quite often, babies have difficulty moving the stool, so which probiotics are best for constipation should be asked by the pediatrician. The doctor will select the drug and indicate the exact dosage for admission and the duration of treatment.

Liquid Probiotics

Complexes containing beneficial microorganisms can be produced in various forms. It can be either tablets or liquid preparations. Among these, I especially want to note "Bifidum", it contains liquid probiotics in high concentration. There are no analogues of this biocomplex in world medicine.

In addition to it, Biovestin and Biovestin-Lacto are also produced. All these additives in their composition have 2 types of live bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.

Often, parents doubt: choose tablets or liquid probiotics? Which are the best of them? Let’s try to determine, having acquainted with the advantages of one of them - for example, “Bifidum”:

1. Liquid preparations contain microorganisms that did not heat up during the manufacturing process, and therefore retained their original activity. Once in the body, they quickly attach themselves, begin to reproduce their own kind and produce the necessary substances.
2. In a liquid state, not only living bacteria are useful, but also their waste products.
3. Bacteriocins act only on pathogenic microflora, while the beneficial one remains untouched.
4. They are capable of producing volatile fatty acids necessary for the normal functioning of intestinal cells.
5. The formation of substances that strengthen the immune system.

The composition of liquid preparations includes microorganisms that meet world requirements. Based on this information, it is already possible to decide which probiotics are better.

Bacteria in Biovestin or Bifidum:

• They have a natural origin.
• Not exposed to bile acids.
• Completely resist pathogenic bacteria.
• They give a pronounced positive effect after application.

Thus, it becomes clear that there are also liquid probiotics. Which are best of them, you can check with your doctor.

The choice of probiotics

It would seem that everything is clear in this topic, but not everyone can say what to focus on when choosing a probiotic. To facilitate your task, here are some recommendations on this subject:

1. When choosing, it is necessary to pay attention to the bacterial composition of the drug (only certain strains can cope with this or that problem).
2. Still need to pay attention to the quantitative content of microorganisms. Dosage very much affects the result after taking them.
3. Get biocomplexes of well-known companies that have been operating in the pharmaceutical market for a long time and have an excellent reputation.
4. Since bacteria have to go through the acidic environment of the stomach, you should pay attention to those drugs that are resistant to such an effect, otherwise the reception will be almost useless.
5. If you are deciding which probiotics to buy for your baby, then be sure to consult your doctor, as some complexes may contain unknown and unverified combinations of microorganisms.
6. Be sure to check the expiration date. Towards its end, the number of living bacteria decreases several times; the effectiveness of taking such a drug will be very low.
7. If you are allergic to dairy products, then check with your pharmacist before buying whether the product contains milk residues.
8. When the package indicates that the drug should be stored in the refrigerator, it is better to purchase another probiotic, since there is no certainty that at all stages of manufacture and transportation these conditions were observed.

Useful advice from a doctor and your attentiveness when buying will help you acquire a high-quality and useful drug.

Lacto or bifidobacteria?

Now there are a huge number of drugs in the pharmacy that can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. Probiotics also belong to this group. To be able to independently buy an effective product, you must know what bacteria are part of and what is their role.

Typically, the composition includes lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. The former have a slight laxative effect, while the latter, on the contrary, hold together. Lactobacilli well remove toxic substances during infectious diseases and during antibiotic therapy.

Bifidobacteria are very useful for babies, especially the first year of life. They strengthen immunity well. Enterococci are often added to complexes that are recommended to be used while taking antibiotics, they are not susceptible to the effects of antibacterial substances and therefore increase the effectiveness of the drug.

On the packages there should always be records not only about the species composition of the drug, but also about the number of certain microorganisms. To effectively combat dysbiosis, the number of bacteria should be at least 10 ⁷ in 1 milliliter. But it should be noted that if microorganisms are not contained in an acid-resistant capsule, then only 1% of the bacteria will reach the destination.

In children, the environment in the stomach is still neutral, so they can be given both probiotics in the form of tablets, and in liquid form, if there are no special doctor's recommendations.

How to take probiotics correctly

Any drug has its own requirements and recommendations for both storage and administration. For probiotics, there are also rules for their use.

1. If you have drunk a course of antibiotics, then it is advisable to use probiotics containing bifidobacteria, for example: Profibor, Bifiform.
2. In order to maximize the effect of the application, it is necessary to drink prebiotics before using probiotic complexes in order to prepare the habitat for beneficial microorganisms.
3. If the drug contains only one type of bacteria, then it can be used for mild dysbiosis or as a prophylaxis. In more severe cases, it is better to drink a complex drug.
4. When severe food intoxication or a patient is observed after surgery, it is advisable to use "Profibor", "Enterol". They not only stop diarrhea, but also help to quickly restore mucous membranes.
5. Probiotics containing lactobacilli treat gastrointestinal diseases well.
6. The course of treatment with probiotic drugs for poisoning or infection should be at least 5-7 days.
7. Dysbacteriosis will have to be treated much longer, about 3-4 weeks.
8. If probiotics are used to treat non-intestinal diseases, the recommendations are as follows:

• infants to improve growth and development for 1-2 weeks;
• with diabetes, you can use up to 2 months;
• allergic reactions require up to 3 weeks;
• as a prophylactic, take seasonally in the spring and fall.

Based on this information, it becomes clear that in some cases probiotics are simply necessary. Which is better for the intestines in your particular case, the doctor should decide.

On television, we constantly see ads of probiotic drugs, but it should be noted that a completely healthy person does not need to take them. A healthy and nutritious diet is a great alternative.

Natural and the best probiotic can be considered ordinary and familiar to all kefir, as well as most dairy products. They contain many beneficial bacteria in their composition (unless, of course, their shelf life has expired), so drink fermented baked milk, milk, kefir, yogurt, eat sour cream. And always be healthy!