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 August 13, 2025, a publication fee of PLN 1200 / 280 EUR will be introduced by the publisher of “Pediatria i Medycyna Rodzinna – „Paediatrics and Family Medicine” for papers submitted to the Editorial team.

Intellectual disability is a deficit in intellectual functioning that impairs adaptation to daily life and may lead to behavioural disorders. Self-injury behaviour is a form of behavioural disorder which has an association with intellectual disabilities in children. Self-injury behaviour can be present in certain genetic syndromes, such as Lesch–Nyhan syndrome. A two-year-old boy with developmental delay was unable to sit, crawl, and talk. 

A case of a 16-year-old male with stage III chronic kidney caused by reflux-obstructive nephropathy, later diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia and referred for allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, is presented. The conditioning regimen prior to the procedure required cyclophosphamide, for which dosing had to be carefully adjusted in view of impaired kidney function to avoid potential complications.

Adverse effects associated with cancer treatment, including cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity (CTR-CVT), affect patients’ quality of life and overall survival. Severe and potentially life-threatening cardiotoxicity associated with myocardial dysfunction is most likely to occur after treatment with anthracyclines, which are commonly used in cancer therapy. Cardiotoxicity is a significant complication for the patient and may also necessitate interruption of oncological treatment.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae has traditionally been recognised as a significant causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia in school-aged children. However, recent epidemiological shifts, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, have altered the clinical presentation and management challenges associated with this pathogen. This comprehensive review examines contemporary issues in the diagnosis and treatment of M. pneumoniae infections in children, with particular emphasis on the increasing prevalence of macrolide resistance and extrapulmonary manifestations.

The optimal way to provide children with nutrients is through a balanced diet. However, this remains a challenge for many parents; therefore, they decide for dietary supplements intended for children. The aim of the article was to analyse the composition of available supplements for children in the form of gummies in terms of their content of additives, such as sweeteners, gelling agents, flavourings, and colourants.

The article aims to formulate criteria determining the right moment to discontinue life support to a terminally ill child at the end of life. The argument refers to two standards guiding critical decision-making: medical futility and the patient’s best interests. When a child demonstrates discernment, account must also be taken of their reasoning. The deterioration of a child’s health, which precedes the decision to stop further therapeutic efforts, is a clinical condition that immediately precedes torment that can only lead to death, or a situation of complete and definitive exclusion of positive perception and feeling.

Melatonin plays a pivotal role in the regulation of biological rhythms, beginning during prenatal development through maternal signalling and continuing postnatally via breast milk. In neonates, whose circadian systems are functionally immature, maternal melatonin serves as a critical entraining agent, facilitating the synchronisation of the sleep–wake cycle, supporting neurodevelopmental processes, and enhancing immune system maturation. Breast milk demonstrates distinct diurnal variations in melatonin concentration, alongside other bioactive components, establishing it as a vital chrononutritional medium.

Ectodermal dysplasia comprises a group of hereditary disorders affecting the development of the skin and its appendages. Among the more than 150 characterised forms of ectodermal dysplasia, hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is the most prevalent in children. Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia is marked by reduced sweating, sparse hair, a limited number of conical-shaped teeth, and brittle nails. The condition results from mutations in genes involved in the EDA-EDAREDARADD-NF-κB signalling pathway, which is crucial for early epithelial-mesenchymal communication during the formation of skin appendages.

IgE-mediated cow’s milk allergy is a significant clinical problem. It may be persistent in a large percentage of children. This allergy is associated with restrictive diet, limitations in social activities and anxiety arising from the fear of accidental exposure to the allergen and life-threatening anaphylaxis. Currently, elimination diet and education of the child and their caregivers are the basic approaches in IgE-mediated cow’s milk allergy. However, this strategy does not modify the natural course of allergy.

Patent ductus arteriosus is a heart defect primarily associated with extreme prematurity. It can lead to multiple morbidities due to diminished organ perfusion or a left-to-right shunt. It can be treated with paracetamol, among other options. Treatment includes fluid restriction, pharmacotherapy (paracetamol at a dose of 15 mg/kg, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), percutaneous interventions, and surgical ligation. This retrospective study aims to analyse whether the analgesic dose of paracetamol and artificial ventilation has any effect on the occurrence of ductus arteriosus.

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is a rare kidney disease characterised by nephrotic proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidaemia and oedema. The incidence of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome ranges from 2 to 7 cases per 100,000 children per year. Children between 1 and 10 years of age are mainly affected. The pathogenesis is associated with damage to the microstructure of glomerular filtration barrier, which may be caused by a variety of immune-mediated factors.

Since the synthesis of histamine in 1907, new reports about its properties and role in the human body have periodically appeared. Its blood levels remain constantly low, almost undetectable, under normal physiological conditions. Increasing histamine levels lead to serious clinical symptoms, including cardiac arrest. Histamine is involved in many processes and allergic reactions. It exerts its effects by acting on receptors, of which four types have been described so far.

Myocarditis, due to its diverse clinical presentation, is a big challenge for clinicians. Aim of the paper was to assess the left ventricular myocardial performance index by echocardiography and the relationship between left ventricular myocardial performance index and the oedema in T2-weighted cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in children with myocarditis.

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.