Introduction. A broad evidence base of numerous randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses asserts the role of intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in the development of various diseases, including those of infectious origin, in infancy and later stages of life.Purpose. Assessment of the efficacy of a multi-strain immuno-probiotic during rehabilitation of frequently ill children visiting organized groups during the period of epidemiological distress for acute respiratory diseases.Materials and methods.93 children older than 3 years of age were enrolled in an open comparative prospective clinical observation during the high-risk respiratory infection period  – November, December. Children were observed for 1.5 months during administration of the multi-strain probiotic and 1 month after discontinuation of the probiotic. The subjects were randomized into two groups: the treatment group (60 children) received the multi-strain probiotic in the maximum age-specific dosage variances (children aged 3 to 12 years old – 1 capsule, older than 12 years of age – 2 capsules) once a day in the morning for 14 days and the comparison group (33 children) did not receive the multi-probiotic for the same period.Results and discussion. It was found that the incidence of disease in children receiving the multi-probiotic (the treatment group – 60 children) was statistically lower, and the disease severity was milder than in the group of children, who did not receive the probiotic (the comparison group – 33 children). Not a single child who received the multi-probiotic in the course of disease did not require antibiotic therapy during the entire observation period. Moreover, the incidence of respiratory infections in the treatment group within a month after discontinuation of the probiotic was 4.6 times lower than in the comparison group. No side effects were reported.Conclusions. The study results allowed the author to recommend the use of a multi-strain immuno-probiotic as a nonspecific immunomodulatory supplement for the seasonal prevention of acute respiratory infections, especially in frequently ill children at a high risk of infections.

Introduction. The role of disturbance of the intestinal microbiota in the development of diseases of infectious genesis and the possibility of using probiotics as an immunomodulatory agent are confirmed by the evidence base of numerous studies.Purpose. To study the results of using a multi-strain immunoprobiotic from the first days of acute respiratory infection as an emergency prevention, for the purpose of reducing the duration and severity of the disease.Materials and methods.Children from 2 to 10 years old took part in the clinical observation: the main group (45 children) received a multi-strain immunoprobiotic in accordance with the instructions for use for 1 week, starting from the 1–2 day of acute respiratory infection and the comparison group (37 children) who did not receive an immunoprobiotic.Results and discussion. As a result of the study, the effectiveness and safety of the use of an immuno-probiotic in children of preschool and primary school age, when prescribed from the first days of acute respiratory infection, and its positive effect on the course of the disease were shown. The duration of the disease in patients receiving the immunoprobiotic was statistically significantly less, and the severity of the disease was milder than in the comparison group. The incidence of repeated respiratory infections during one month after discontinuation in the main observation group was 3.1 times lower than in the comparison group. At the end of the experiment, statistically significantly higher levels of leukocytes, eosinophils, monocytes and the absolute number of lymphocytes were revealed in the comparison group that did not receive the immunoprobiotic.Conclusions. The obtained results allowed to substantiate the use of a multi-strain immuno-probiotic as a non-specific immunomodulatory agent for emergency prevention when prescribed from the first days of a respiratory infection for the purpose to reduce the duration and severity of the disease.

The results of a study of the effect of probiotic containing Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716, isolated from breast milk and used for the prevention of postpartum mastitis, on the health of infants in the first half of life, in particular, the incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections, are presented. It was found that infants of the main group (234 patients), whose mothers received a probiotic for a month, based on lactobacilli Lc40, 3.2 times less likely to have acute respiratory infections and 8.0 times less often from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of various origins, compared with children (39 infants) fed unfortified milk (р < 0.05).

Ichthyosis is a skin disease that is hereditary, has pronounced symptoms in the form of a violation of the skin, and the presence of formations resembling fish scales. It is possible to distinguish different approaches to the definition of ichthyosis, based on the modern study of this issue. Ichthyosis is classified by type: congenital and acquired. Congenital ichthyosis has its own classification depending on the manifestation of changes in the skin, the course of the disease, concomitant pathologies. Congenital ichthyosis is divided into ordinary (vulgar autosomal dominant, simple) ichthyosis, lamellar ichthyosis (dry ichthyosiform erythroderma, "collodion child", lamellar ichthyosis), X-linked ichthyosis (ichthyosis associated with the X chromosome, blackening ichthyosis), congenital bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma (erythroderma Broca's disease, ichthyosiform epidermolytic hyperkeratosis), fetal ichthyosis (intrauterine ichthyosis, universal hyperkeratosis, "Harlequin fetus", congenital keratosis), other congenital ichthyosis. Ichthyosiform conditions (the so-called acquired ichthyosis) are divided into symptomatic, age-related (senile), discoid ichthyosis. The causes of acquired ichthyosis can be various diseases, taking medications, improper skin care, unbalanced nutrition. Each form of ichthyosis differs by the type of inheritance, prevalence in the population, clinical picture, verified by histological examination of skin biopsies and electron microscopic examination of the skin. It may be accompanied by seasonality of exacerbation of the clinical picture, association with other diseases (allergic, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, congenital malformations). There is no specific treatment for ichthyosis. In systemic therapy, derivatives of vitamin A are used, keratolytics, as well as moisturizing and emollient agents are used for external treatment. The use of therapeutic baths, general ultraviolet irradiation is effective.

Infant colic is one of the most common functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in children of the first year of life, worsening the condition of both the child himself and the psychological climate in the family. Infant intestinal colic is a multifactorial symptom complex that requires differential diagnosis between norm and pathology. Until now, there is no clear understanding of the criteria for the need for dietary and drug correction of this condition. The article presents an analysis of the modern literature on the problem of intestinal colic in infants The pathogenesis of functional intestinal colic is determined by a combination of reasons, including the immaturity of the central nervous system, hypothalamic-pituitary system, regulation of the intestinal innervation and the enzymatic system, a certain dependence on psychosocial factors has also been identified, the intestinal microflora has a great influence. H. Kianifar et al. (2014) in the findings of a study noted that a multiprobiotic (seven strains of probiotics and fructooligosaccharides) significantly improved colic symptoms, in particular a reduction in crying time, (82.6%) compared with placebo (35.7%) on day 7 of intake (p < 0.005). On day 30, treatment success was 87% and 46% in the synbiotics and placebo groups, respectively (p < 0.01). The results of a domestic study by I.N. Zakharova et al. (2016) multiprobiotic, which showed that after the use of a multistrain probiotic, intestinal colic remained in 3 (10%) children of the main group and in all children in the placebo group. After taking the probiotic, 80% of children showed normalization of stool, and in the placebo group, stool disorders (loose, watery stools or no stool with the need to empty after an enema) were recorded in 87% of children. Cases from clinical practice with experience of using a multistrain probiotic for colic are shown.