Supplements of probiotics -- the "good" bacteria that regularly live in our intestines and help improve digestion and our immunity -- may help kids recover from a bout of diarrhea faster.

That's according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which had a committee of nutrition experts review a number of studies on probiotic and prebiotic supplements.

The review comes as more food makers add probiotics to their products, such as to yogurts and milks, claiming they help digestive health and the immune system.

A number of supplement makers also sell active probiotics in health food stores, most often strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

The AAP researchers concluded from their review that probiotics are given early in the course of a "stomach bug" infection, such as a rotavirus infection, the symptoms can be shortened by about one day.

The supplements might also prevent diarrhea in children taking antibiotics. The researchers found that in such kids, about one in seven cases of antibiotic-related diarrhea could be prevented if the children were given probiotics when starting their antibiotic.

But, the reviewers found no evidence that probiotics can actually treat antibiotic-related diarrhea.

On the other hand, the evidence isn't yet strong enough to endorse infant formulas that contain probiotics, the reviewers concluded.

Nor do they think it safe to give probiotics to children who are seriously ill. They note there have been serious infections reported in kids with compromised immune systems or who use intravenous catheters who took probiotics.

The researchers say more study is also needed before the group can recommend probiotics for constipation, irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease.

Nor is there enough evidence for recommending probiotics in pregnant women, or in infants to prevent eczema or asthma.

Finally, they note that human breast milk is a natural prebiotic, and is preferred for infants through six months of age.

Adding probiotics to powdered infant formulas has not been shown to be harmful to healthy term infants," they write in the journal, Pediatrics

"On the other hand, evidence of clinical efficacy for their addition is insufficient to recommend the routine use of these formulas."