This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of demographic characteristics, hospital practices, maternal psychosocial factors, and knowledge about infant feeding and breast milk on duration of breastfeeding. The mothers of 91 healthy, term infants delivered at a university hospital between June 1998 and December 1998, and first seen in the well-child unit within 10 days of delivery, participated in the study. Forty-nine (54%) infants were exclusively breastfed at 4 months of age. Cox regression analysis showed a negative association between formula supplementation during the hospital stay and duration of exclusive breastfeeding. The median age for starting non-breast milk liquids was 1 month for those who received formula in the hospital and 3 months for those who did not (P = .001). The hospital practices were more predictive of the duration of exclusive breastfeeding in this study group than mothers' knowledge of infant feeding or psychosocial factors. Thus, hospital practices should be reevaluated.

Enuresis is a common problem among school children and associated urinary abnormalities are not uncommon. Identification of children at risk is an essential first step before choosing the individualized management for each enuretic child.

In congenital or aqcuired immune deficiencies, infectious diseases which can be prevented by vaccination have a severe course because of supression of the immune system by the disease itself or the treatment methods used. Therefore, vaccination is important in immune deficiency. Although the protective antibody levels achieved in healthy individuals can not be provided in patients with immune deficiency, there is no drawback in administering inactive vaccines in accordance with the vaccination program. On the other hand, live viral and bacterial vaccines should not be administered during periods of immunosupression in conditions where the immune system is strongly supressed by diseases or drugs, since they would cause to systemic infection. Physicians should have sufficient knowledge about contraindications of vaccination in individuals with immune deficiency and in people who live in the same house with these individuals.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and to assess the relationship between vitamin D and disease activity. Sixty four patients with JIA, thirty six patients with FMF and one hundred healthy children were enrolled in this study. Vitamin D levels were measured during activation and remission periods in the patients with JIA and during attack and attack free periods in the patients with FMF. The mean vitamin D levels were found to be 18. 9±11 ng/ml and 18.6±9.2 ng/ml during activation and remission periods of disease, respectively, in the patients with JIA, 16±8.5 ng/ml and 13.1±6.4 ng/ml during attack and attack-free periods, respectively, in the patients with FMF and 26.7±10.5 ng/ml in the healthy children. There was no significant difference between vitamin D levels during activation and remission periods in the patients with JIA, whereas vitamin D levels during attack free periods were lower compared to attack periods in the patients with FMF. No significant relationship was found between disease activity and serum vitamin D levels. The vitamin D levels of the children with JIA and FMF were significantly lower compared to the healthy children. The frequency of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was considerably high among the patients with JIA and FMF.

Anemia is a frequent manifestation and an important health problem. The aim of this study was to found the prevalence of anemia among primary schoolchildren and determine the risk factors associated with anemia. The study group was composed of 1531 students between 6 and 16 years old from 14 primary schools located in seven different regions of Istanbul. Data were collected via a questionnaire filled out by parents. For all students, a complete blood cell count detected by an automated cell counter and anemia prevalence was determined according to Dallman criteria. The overall prevalence of anemia was found to be 27.6 per cent. There was no significant relationship between the prevalence of anemia and the students' age, gender, parents' educational level and employment, and monthly family income by logistic regression analysis. Only the number of family members and malnutrition were risk factors for anemia. Today, anemia is a common problem among primary schoolchildren in Istanbul. Identification of the risk factors is essential for the prevention of anemia.