Probiotics and Prebiotics for Prevention of Viral Respiratory Tract Infections

This chapter introduces the importance of viral upper respiratory tract infections and evidence that probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics may reduce not only their incidence, but also their duration and severity. It starts by explaining the importance of viral respiratory infections and the common cold including their prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and cost. The mechanisms of action are discussed next. Later, it represents the clinical trials using probiotics and prebiotics for the prevention of viral infection in different age groups. At the end of the chapter, a summary of latest evidences is presented.