Emerging treatments
Smectite
Smectite is a medicinal clay that, according to one systematic review, may reduce the duration of diarrhoea in children with acute infectious diarrhoea by a day, increase the cure rate by day 3, and reduce stool output. The study found that smectite had no impact on hospitalisation rates or intravenous therapy requirements. However, the conclusions of the study were based on low-certainty evidence.[49]
Medicinal plants
Research from sub-Saharan Africa has demonstrated effective in vitro treatment of Campylobacterwith the use of regional medicinal plants.[50] The species Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Terminalia macroptera have shown the most promise in terms of antibacterial efficacy against Campylobacter, although significantly more research is needed to isolate the specific compounds and assess in vivo efficacy and safety.[50]
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