Successful treatment of rotavirus diarrhea in children with immunoglobulinfrom immunized bovine colostrum

Background Oral ingestion of immunoglobulins in humans has been shown to be effective as prophylaxis against enteric infections. However, its therapeu tic effect in children with infectious diarrhea has hitherto not been prove n. We treated children with rotavirus diarrhea with immunoglobulins extract ed from immunized bovine colostrum (IIBC) containing high titers of antibod ies against four rotavirus serotypes. Methods. In this double blind placebo-controlled trial, 80 children with ro tavirus diarrhea were randomly assigned to receive orally either 10 g of HB C (containing 3.6 g of antirotavirus antibodies) daily for 4 days or the sa me amount of a placebo preparation. The daily stool output (grams/kg/day), intake of oral rehydration solution (ml/kg/day), stool frequency (number of stools/day) and presence of rotavirus in stool were monitored for the 4 da ys during treatment. Results. Children who received IIBC had significantly less daily and total stool output and stool frequency and required a smaller amount of oral rehy dration solution than did children who received placebo (P < 0.05). Clearan ce of rotavirus from the stool was also earlier in the IIBC group compared with the placebo group (mean day, 1.5 vs, 2.9, P < 0.001). No adverse react ions from the colostrum treatment were observed. Conclusions, Treatment with antirotavirus immunoglobulin of bovine colostra l origin is effective in the management of children with acute rotavirus di arrhea.