During antibiotic therapy in children or adults, the doctor may recommend taking probiotics to prevent diarrhea.

Current scientific knowledge does not allow the preventative use of probiotics to be systematically generalized. However, in certain situations it is possible to recommend administration of specific probiotics as a preventative measure (antibiotic-associated diarrhea, traveler’s diarrhea, recurrent cystitis, allergic rhinitis, etc.).

Dysbiosis is the reflection of an imbalance in the microbiota, following quantitative and qualitative changes of the composition of the bacterial flora. It is associated with harmful consequences for the host, which may be involved in the development of certain diseases.

Currently, in the management of certain diseases (antibiotic-associated diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroenteritis), we can act on the intestinal flora with the aim of rebalancing it by introducing favorable microorganisms (bacteria, yeast).

The balance of the intestinal flora is partly related to eating habits. A good diet (high in fiber, low in fat) helps maintain a diversified, high-quality microbiota which is beneficial to its smooth functioning.

A microbiota is found in different parts of the body: skin, digestive tract, respiratory system, urogenital system, etc.

A possible role of the intestinal microbiota in the emergence of some neurodegenerative diseases has been suggested. In Parkinson’s disease, a chronic intestinal infection with Helicobacter pylori, resulting in disruption of the gut-brain communication axis, may be involved. In autism, imbalances in the microbiota (dysbiosis) have been found in children with the disorder, once again disrupting gut-brain exchanges. For other cases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, the microbiota is a promising avenue of research for finding the origin of these diseases.

It is possible to modulate the microbiota. To do so, you can either stimulate the growth of favorable microbial species by consuming prebiotics or introduce beneficial microorganisms by consuming probiotics. At the same time, a healthy diet is required (high in fiber, low in fat, etc.). In some cases, fecal transplantation will be used to affect the microbiota and correct dysbiosis (for example during infection with Clostridium difficile).

“Intestinal flora” is the old term commonly used to define the intestinal microbiota. The two terms mean the same thing.

Probiotics are specific living microorganisms that, in sufficient quantity, have beneficial effects on health. Prebiotics are fibers that make up the nutritional substrate for the growth of beneficial microbiota bacteria. Probiotics and prebiotics have complementary effects