TY - JOUR T1 - A <em>post hoc</em> analysis on the effects of a probiotic mixture on asthma exacerbation frequency in schoolchildren JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.00020-2022 VL - 8 IS - 2 SP - 00020-2022 AU - Lorenzo Drago AU - Luigi Cioffi AU - Maria Giuliano AU - Marco Pane AU - Giorgio Ciprandi AU - the PROPAM Study Group Y1 - 2022/04/01 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/8/2/00020-2022.abstract N2 - Asthma is usually characterised by chronic airway inflammation [1]. Furthermore, respiratory infections frequently precede asthma exacerbations in children, mainly in allergic subjects [2–4]. As a result, dampening inflammation and preventing respiratory infections are essential in the therapeutical strategy. It has been underscored by the pathogenic relevance of dysbiosis, as it has been evidenced that the children with asthma present dysbiosis of the gut and lung microbiome [5]. The dysbiosis affects the immune response and, consequently, induces airways inflammation, and airflow limitation [6]. These events constituted the premise of using probiotics to modulate the immune response to restore the microbiota and immune balance [7]. Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms which confer a beneficial effect on the host”, according to the World Health Organization [8].The present randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study showed that a probiotic mixture significantly reduced the number of asthma exacerbations in schoolchildren https://bit.ly/382LYKVWe would like to thank Fara Vallefuoco (ADL Farmaceutici, Naples, Italy) for her skilful cooperation in trial management and Irene Schiavetti (University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy) for statistical analysis. PROPAM Study Group Members: Francesco Paolo Brunese, Francesco Carlomagno, Donatella Del Gaizo, Antonietta D'Onofrio, Patrizia Gallo, Salvatore Iasevoli, Raffaele Limauro, Roberto Sassi and Giannamaria Vallefuoco. ER -