Date of Award

Spring 5-2025

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

First Advisor

Metzger, Jay

Keywords

probiotics, asthma, allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, children, child, adolescent

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are chronic conditions affecting children and adults, often impairing quality of life. Conventional treatments, including allergen avoidance, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and bronchodilators, manage symptoms but may also have limitations and side effects. Recent studies have explored the efficacy of probiotics as a potential adjunct therapy to alleviate AR symptoms, decrease asthma severity, and reduce the dependence on these conventional treatments. This literature review aims to determine the efficacy of probiotics in treating asthma and allergic rhinitis. It includes studies using probiotics to treat asthma and/or allergic rhinitis, as found using Embase and PubMed. Only studies involving pediatric participants and focusing on AR and/or asthma were included, while those addressing other allergy symptoms or adult populations were excluded. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies suggest that probiotics may improve pulmonary function and AR symptoms in children with allergic rhinitis and asthma. Probiotics may offer a promising complementary approach for managing allergic diseases, though further research is needed to refine dosage, strain selection, and long-term efficacy.

Download

Share

COinS