This fully updated second edition demonstrates the major impact that the gut microbiota has on human gastrointestinal health, with a special focus on children. The book also explores the potential use of probiotic microorganisms to protect or improve gastrointestinal health in children.

Humans are not a single organism: We are a multi-organic structure composed of ourselves and our microbiota, living in close symbiosis since birth and even before. The enormous impact that the billions of microscopic cells in our gut have on our gastrointestinal and systemic health cannot be overstated. The tremendous progress that has been made in the last decade in our still very incomplete understanding of the gut microbiota opens the door to potential applications in human health that were simply unthinkable before.

One of the most interesting aspects of this new scientific horizon is the fact that we can identify (or even create in the lab) many of these "friendly bacteria" and use themto protect or improve our health. Thus, strains of probiotic microorganisms are being identified and studied in a variety of clinical scenarios. One of the most studied areas for probiotics is pediatric gastrointestinal health.

Topics covered in this book range from the development of the intestinal microbiota in the fetus and neonate to current and potential applications in various conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis or infectious or inflammatory diseases of the child.

Written by an international group of preeminent experts in these fields in a rigorous, evidence-based manner, the book is intended for pediatric gastroenterologists, pediatricians, and medical scientists alike.

Autorentext

Stefano Guandalini is Professor Emeritus and former Chief of the Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of the University of Chicago. He has served as President of SIGENP (Italian Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition), then of ESPGHAN (European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) and as founder and first President of FISPGHAN (the Federation of the International Societies for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition). He is also the Founder and Director Emeritus of the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, one of the pre-eminent comprehensive centers for celiac disease in the country. Dr. Guandalini has presented over 400 invited speeches at national and international meetings and has organized 12 national and international meetings. He is the author of more than 200 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He contributed more than 30 chapters to gastroenterology books and has also published as Editor 5 books, the latest in 2022 (Textbook of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Springer 2nd ed.). The 2nd edition of "Essentials of Pediatric Gastroenterology" is currently being prepared for McGraw-Hill. His published research, mostly focused on celiac disease, diarrheal disorders and the clinical use of probiotics, has received more than 17,000 citations in the medical literature and his current H-index is 60.

Flavia Indrio is professor at the University of Bari. She is responsible for the Paediatric Gastroenterology and Motility Unit and a teacher of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition for the Resident in Paediatric University of Bari School of Medicine as well as a tutor for Medical Students at University of Bari School of Medicine. Prof. Indrio has published more than 100 peer reviewed papers. She is member of Italian Society of Paediatrics, Italian Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Italian Society of Neonatology and European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology. She is honorary Member of South African Society of Paediatrics. Finally Flavia Indrio is a Member of Committee of Nutrition ESPGHAN and eLearning Program for ESPGHAN and Chair of 4th International Congress on Prebiotics and Probiotics in Paediatrics.