Cooked green Banana as home management for acute diarrhea in under-5 Children

Acute diarrhea remains a prime contributor to under-5 mortality. Green Banana is a traditional home-based remedy for diarrhea.

The present study identified the effect of green bananas on the duration, recovery, and prevention of severe dehydration in under-5 children with acute watery diarrhea with no/some dehydration.

This study separated one hundred fifty-three children into group A (that received cooked green banana supplementation and standard management) and group B (that received only standard management). It then compared the duration of diarrhea, the proportion of children recovered, the need for hospitalization, the development of persistent diarrhea, and the number of diarrheal episodes in 1 year follow-up period between the two groups.

The study observed-

• Green banana supplementation caused a reduction in the duration of diarrhea, less hospitalization, and early recovery, both on day three and day 7.
• Green bananas protected children from developing persistent diarrhea.
• It reduced future episodes of diarrhea by 40.5%.

This study proves that Green banana supplementation could be a promising adjunct therapy in acute diarrhea and thereby might help reduce under-5 mortality.

Islam K, Konar MC, Roy A, et al. Role of cooked green Banana in home management of acute diarrhea in under-5 children. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2023;69(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/tropej/fmad005