Of the 594 children randomised, 571 started the study, receiving
either milk containing Lactobacillus GG (n=282) or control milk
(n=289) (figure ). Fifty eight children did not complete the
follow up period. Progress of participants during seven month
study Table details characteristics of the children before
treatment. The block randomisation resulted in a similar
distribution of children in the age groups under 3 years and 3
years and over: 51 (18%) and 231 (82%) in the Lactobacillus
group and 55 (19%) and 234 (81%) in the control group. Detailed
analysis of age distribution, however, showed that there were
differences between the groups. Also, there were more children
in the control group who had had five or more respiratory
infections during the preceding 12 months. Age and preceding
infections both have an effect on the incidence of infections
and as they were strongly correlated we adjusted only for age in
comparisons of treatment. Characteristics before treatment of
children allocated to probiotic milk