Impact of the Nutritional Product PTM202 on Acute and Long-Term Recovery From Childhood Diarrheal Disease

This is a double-blind, randomized control trial of the nutritional product PTM202, which is a food product based on cow milk colostrum and eggs from hens that have been immunized against human diarrheal pathogens. Children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years will be enrolled at two sites in Guatemala who present with acute diarrhea. The study will have two strata according to the severity of the diarrhea.

The study product will be administered over 3 days, and the investigators will assess the impact on diarrhea duration and severity, and then follow subjects for 4 weeks to assess the impact of the nutritional product on weight gain following the episode, because poor weight gain is a major health problem in low-income countries. The investigators will also monitor for any adverse events during the trial.

The duration of participation will be 31 days for all subjects.

A stool sample will be collected at enrollment to ascertain the etiology of the diarrhea. A second sample will be collected at the end of the study to assess changes in pathogens.

Inclusion criteria

• Subject's parent or legal guardian is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the trial.
• Male or Female, aged 6 months to 35 months.
• Presenting to care for acute diarrhea of 72 hours duration or less at the time of enrollment.
• Greater than 3 liquid stools in the previous 24 hours.
• In the Investigator's opinion, is able and willing to comply with all trial requirements.
• Additional inclusion for Arm 1: in addition to above, the subject will require or have already required > 8 hours of active rehydration in hospital or ER diarrheal ward, as determined by the attending physician.
• Additional inclusion for Arm 2: in addition to above, the subject will require or have already required < 8 hours of active rehydration in hospital or ER diarrheal ward, as determined by the attending physician.

Exclusion criteria

• Clinical condition for which oral intake of test product or placebo is contraindicated in opinion or attending physician.
• History of hypersensitivity or adverse reaction to milk or egg products.
• Condition improving in last 24 hours per parental report.
• Mild disease severity, defined as no recommended period of observed rehydration therapy per attending physician.
• Bloody Diarrhea at presentation.
• Severe malnutrition, defined as weight-for-age Z-score < -3 from median WHO published norms.
• Major congenital defects or serious chronic illness (neurologic, pulmonary, gastrointestinal liver, renal or endocrine).
• Receipt of probiotics in 72 hours prior to enrollment or recommended treatment with probiotics by attending physician
• Any confirmed or suspected immunosuppressive or immunodeficient condition including human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV).
• Subject who, in the opinion of the investigator or sub-investigator, is unlikely to comply with the protocol, including capability to receive follow-up telephone calls or return for final visit.