Meningitis and probiotics

First of all your heading suggests your GS is recovering from bacterial meningitis. What a worrying time you must have had. I'm so glad he is in the road to recovery

Secondly who told you he could have wiped out his gut flora completely?

I may have been been a little dramatic Anya but it is fairly common knowledge that antibiotics are very toxic for the health of your gut microbes and compromise your immune system. The Diet Myth by Tim Spector is a very interesting read.

Sorry, Anya forgot to say thank you for your good wishes.

OK got you Pamela

Yes, antibiotics can alter gut bacteria, but I doubt they've all been wiped out and given the chance they out to repopulate themselves. But I do give my in GC a serving of Actimel quite regularly as a) they like the taste b) it has various vits and minerals and probiotics and c) if it doesn't do them any good it certainly won't do them any harm.

I have fed DH probiotic pills when he had a bad 'tummy upset' that lingered on and on and that worked well, but I wouldn't recommend that for a child,

Nature will probably sort out his gut. You just need to be there with cuddles and hugs and thanks for his safe recovery.

Activia yoghurt is good too. Children might like it? Hope you GC continues to recover well. What a worry for you all!

Not sure Activia is any better than any other live yoghurt, after reading about the lawsuit against the claims they made about their product.

You have to find a yoghurt which says on it that the culture is active. It might be in a health food shop and without sugar so you must sweeten it up for him with a bit of jam.
Continue for quite a few weeks, then don't forgte what Tim Spectar writes that he needs as many different foods as possible.
I think his gut will recover but understand your worrying about him. Glad he's on the mend!

I think I would ask for advice in a reputable health food shop. Yogurt and the yogurt drinks do contain some probiotics, but a proper probiotic designed for children from a health food shop (I wouldn't send for them online) may work more quickly as they will contain far more.

I am glad he is recovering, it must have been a very worrying time for you all

www.optibacprobiotics.co.uk/shop/for-babies-children?gclid=CLSdh-_0_M0CFbcW0wodMZQKEQ
Not particularly recommending these, they are just an example and other brands will be available and could be recommended.

I said I wouldn't send for them online but that looks like a reputable firm; I meant from an overseas site you may not be able to trust.

PamelaJ1 I have pmd you

Indinana sorry to read that about Activia. I have to say that in our house we've been very impressed by the effect it seems to have on our digestive systems! I suggested it as it might be more palatable for a little boy who might be understandably resistant to more obvious ways of offering him things 'for his own good' right now!

I might mention the Optibac to my DS; DGD is a C section baby who seems to suffer from a lot of tummy problems. Thanks Jalima.

Thanks Jalima, it's sounds good. I take caprillic acid and acidophilus myself and cut out sugar for a couple of months twice a year, it seems to help my psoriasis. I will try this product with its measured dose for children.
I have already told DD to give him as wide a range of foodstuffs as possible.
Thank you to everyone.