On March 1, 2023, a new submission system has been launched. The manuscripts with all their attachments should be submitted via publishing platform Journals System.

We would like to inform you that from June 28, 2023, a publication fee of PLN 2000 / 450 EUR will be introduced by the publisher of “Pediatria i Medycyna Rodzinna – „Paediatrics and Family Medicine” for papers submitted to the Editorial team.

Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic inflammatory process of unknown ethology, characterised by high levels of transaminases and IgG antibodies, the presence of tissue autoantibodies, and a typical histological picture. In the population of children, the paediatric form of autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis are collectively classified as juvenile autoimmune liver disease. The condition often coexists with other autoimmune disorders.

The high prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the specificity of paediatric patients and the determination of their parents give rise to the growing interest of scientists in potential therapeutic approaches. There are multiple aetiological factors involved, and more will probably be discovered. Currently, the involvement of genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology is widely accepted. Growing evidence has been presented for the link between gut dysbiosis and autism.

Obesity is a chronic disease and a significant public health problem. It is estimated that more than 650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children are obese. Obesity leads to organ complications including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases. The management of obesity is based on nutritional therapy combined with lifestyle changes and increased physical activity. Pharmacotherapy is also crucial, and incretin analogues are a relatively new group of drugs. 

Personalised medicine is critical in managing allergic diseases, with the variety of second-generation antihistamines necessitating tailored approaches to individual patient needs. This encompasses considerations of age, pregnancy, breastfeeding, hepatic and renal failure, drug interactions, and aging. This paper synthesises current research and guidelines on the use of antihistamines across diverse clinical scenarios, paying special attention to paediatric allergy treatment, including safety profiles of first- and second-generation antihistamines, their use during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and interactions with other drugs, as well as considerations for elderly patients.

Vaccines are an extremely effective primary prevention tool recommended for routine use in children worldwide. Vaccination is crucial for patients with underlying diseases, including children living with HIV, because of their increased risk of morbidity and mortality from various vaccine-preventable diseases. Complex care for patients living with HIV includes antiretroviral therapy (which has dramatically improved survival), prophylaxis and treatment of common infections, prophylaxis and treatment of opportunistic infections, and vaccination.

Urinary tract infections can recur in children, and due to their potential long-term consequences, they require appropriate diagnosis and prompt treatment. Although Escherichia coli is the most common aetiology, an increase in infections with drug-resistant strains has been observed. The aim of this study was to develop current diagnostic and treatment recommendations in the era of increasing microbial resistance.

Five years after publishing the first Polish recommendations on the management of influenza, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a need to update the recommendations. Influenza is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract that occurs in all age groups. The course of the disease may vary in severity and clinical picture, from asymptomatic to severe with symptoms of respiratory failure. The possibility of pandemic infections and serious complications distinguish influenza from other viral respiratory diseases.

Enteral nutrition is a component of therapy for children whose ability to take in food by the natural route is impaired but whose gastrointestinal tract capacity still allows for nutrient digestion and absorption. According to guidelines, the optimum types of food for enteral feeding are ready-to-use commercial formulas (food for a special medical purpose, FSMP), which are classified into polymeric, oligomeric and amino acid/elemental. Using a blended kitchen diet as a sole food source is currently not universally recommended due to the higher risk of nutritional deficiencies and contamination with pathogenic microorganisms.

Treatment of obesity is one of the challenges of the 21^st century. It is a risk factor for the development of other diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease or cancer. Diagnosis of obesity should be based on body mass measurements, taking into account height and sex. It is also recommended to measure waist and hip circumference. In the article the authors reviewed guidelines regarding pharmacological treatment of obesity. The authors focus on summarising indications for pharmacotherapy, descriptions of individual drugs, their doses, as well as therapy goals and pointing out differences between individual recommendations.

As a result of genetic changes and mutations of SARS-CoV-2, new variants emerge that have different properties compared to the original strains of the virus, which is a challenge for public health. XBB.1.5, also known as Kraken, is a subvariant of Omicron, and it is the most infectious and transmissible strain of SARS-CoV-2 to date. XBB.1.5 is the dominant strain in the United States of America, spreading worldwide, including in Europe and Asia. XBB.1.5 has properties to evade the immune system and reinfect individuals who have had COVID-19 before due to its strong binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, and antibody evasion.

The influenza virus is an important cause of morbidity, complications and mortality worldwide. Anyone can be infected, regardless of latitude or age. The paper describes the history of obtaining a modern influenza vaccine that does not deviate from current World Health Organization standards in Poland. Dozens of studies assessing the post-vaccination humoral response for different types of influenza vaccine, measuring levels of anti-haemagglutinin and anti-neuraminidase antibodies (although not in all of the studies) have been presented.

Allergic diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, such as asthma or chronic rhinosinusitis, continue to pose a real challenge to modern medicine. The causes of the growing problem generated by these diseases is thought to be in the interaction of genes and the environment. In the light of current knowledge, it seems that the environmentally dependent interaction between the airway microbiota ecosystem and the epithelium is able to shape the functions of the local immune system, producing a number of molecular and clinical consequences. In this paper, an attempt was made to describe the role of microbiota composition disorders (dysbiosis) of the upper respiratory tract and allergies in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis in children.

The skin microbiota is a complex ecosystem consisting of bacteria, fungi and viruses. The role of the human skin microbiota is to maintain homeostasis in the body. Disruption of the balance of the natural composition of the human microbiome can lead to the development of inflammation and infection. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic and recurrent non-infectious, inflammatory dermatosis characterised by erythematous and exfoliative skin lesions, accompanied by pruritus and a tendency to superinfection.

The discovery of vaccination had a significant impact on reducing mortality, extending lifespan and improving the quality of life. We are again facing the threat of infectious epidemics in this era of advancing globalisation, climate crisis and population migratory movements. These predictions were confirmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Intensive work of many research centres has led to a rapid development of an innovative mRNA vaccine against this clinical entity. These vaccines act by introducing an mRNA template into the host cell to stimulate antigen synthesis in vivo. Once again, science has succeeded in limiting the spread of a disease, which was a historic breakthrough. This paper presents a historical outline of the stages of the development of vaccinology leading to the modern concept and technology of vaccine production.

Sudden health states accompanied by seizures require proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment. A seizure in the paediatric population may turn into a life-threatening condition, especially when it is misdiagnosed and appropriate management is initiated too late. The article presents the classification of seizures proposed by the International League Against Epilepsy and seizure time intervals when appropriate treatment should be implemented. The main part of this work is the description of non-pharmacological treatment. In this paper, the management of seizures in the paediatric population was based on the guidelines proposed by several recognised organisations.

Influenza is an acute viral disease of the respiratory system. Its course can be complicated, particularly in seniors, young children or patients with chronic conditions. Common complications include pneumonia, exacerbation of chronic diseases, heart muscle involvement, and neurologic disorders. This paper analyses the frequency and factors contributing to the development of influenza complications in primary healthcare patients. The study enrolled a total of 631 adult patients who visited a family physician complaining of respiratory tract infections from January 2019 to April 2020 in the Family Doctor’s Clinic in Gostyń, Greater Poland Province. Of them, 90 patients were diagnosed with influenza.

Eosinophilic oesophagitis is a complex multifactorial disorder and one of the leading causes of dysphagia in children and adults. An allergen-mediated inflammatory response is the underlying cause of this disease. Allergen-activated Th₂ cells, eosinophils and interleukins 4, 5 and 13 play a major role in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic oesophagitis. Difficulties swallowing, especially dry food, and the related increase in chewing time, as well as episodes of oesophageal food impaction, often requiring endoscopic treatment, are the leading symptoms.