Background. This study evaluated the difference between boys and girls in terms of nutritional status, lifestyle, and dietary habits during school life. Materials and Methods. A descriptive and observational study was conducted in 2016, in which 251 children, aged 7-17, from 3 elementary schools and a high school in Bucharest, Romania, were evaluated. A questionnaire was used to assess food behavior, eating, and lifestyle habits. Results. Boys had a significantly higher waist circumference (71.18±9) than girls (67.46±9.91) (p=0.004). Thus 27% of boys were overweight or obese compared with only 22% of the girls. Differences were also seen between the two groups in terms of main meals and snacks and following a rhythm of meals: a statistically significant percentage of girls (36.3%) skip breakfast, while most boys (63.8%) take a food package to school. A total of 23.8% of the boys and 24% of the girls state that they eat while sitting in front of the computer or TV. Conclusions. We found that boys are more overweight or obese than girls. Obesity in the pediatric population of Romania could be explained by the country's emergence from communism 25 years ago, pattern typical of all Eastern European countries and which currently involve an overexposure of people to fast food, fizzy drinks and sweets, as well as to a high consumption of salt and food additives. Unbalanced and highly caloric food had been preferable to healthy food in the last period. Leisure time is rather spent in front of the TV, tablet, detrimental to rational physical exercise, recreational sports or hiking. The family environment is very important and all our actions should be focused on continuous education about the risks of unhealthy food and a sedentary lifestyle.

Background—Children with genetic disorders have multiple anatomical and physiological conditions that predispose them to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). They should have priority access to polysomnography (PSG) before establishing their therapeutic protocol. We analyzed the prevalence and the severity of OSAS in a particular group of children with genetic disorders and strengthened their need for a multidisciplinary diagnosis and adapted management. Methods—The retrospective analysis included children with genetic impairments and sleep disturbances that were referred for polysomnography. We collected respiratory parameters from sleep studies: apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), SatO2 nadir, end-tidal CO2, and transcutaneous CO2. Subsequent management included non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or otorhinolaryngological (ENT) surgery of the upper airway. Results—We identified 108 patients with neuromuscular disorders or multiple congenital anomalies. OSAS was present in 87 patients (80.5%), 3 of whom received CPAP, 32 needed another form of NIV during sleep, and 15 patients were referred for ENT surgery. The post-therapeutic follow-up PSG parameters confirmed the success of the treatment. Conclusions—The upper airway obstruction diagnostics and management for children with complex genetic diseases need a multidisciplinary approach. Early detection and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing in children with genetic disorders is a priority for improving their quality of life.

Background: Given the potential for additional development to clarify a better knowledge of generally influence of COVID-19 upon the pediatric population, the clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents are still being explored. Morbidity in children is characterized by a variable clinical course. Our study’s goal was to compare clinical aspects of 230 pediatric patients who analyzed positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were hospitalized between April 2020 and March 2022. Methods: This retrospective study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019, (COVID-19) in two groups of pediatric patients hospitalized in the infectious disease clinical ward IX at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr. Matei Bals,” Bucharest, Romania. Clinical characteristics of 88 patients (first group), admitted between April–December 2020 were compared with the second group of 142 children admitted between July 2021 and March 2022. Results: Of 230 children, the median age was 4.5 years, and 53.9% were male. Fever (82.17%) and sore throat (66%) were the most common initial symptoms. Rhinorrhea (42%), cough (34%) and diarrhea (41.74%), with abdominal pain (26%) were also reported in a considerable number of cases. 88 (36.21%) patients (first group) were admitted during the second wave in Romania, mostly aged <5 years old, and experienced digestive manifestations like fever (p = 0.001), and diarrhea (p = 0.004). The second group experienced different clinical signs when compared with the first group, with higher temperature and increased respiratory symptoms analogous to persons who suffer acute respiratory viral infections. The proportion in the second group increased by 23.48% from the first group, and the 0–4 age group for both groups had symptoms for a median interval of 5 days; age (0–4-years old) and length of stay were both proportionally inversely and required longer hospitalization (5 days), for the first group. During study time, the fully vaccinated children for 5–12 years old were 10%, and for 13–18 years old, 14.35% respective. We report two Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS) in the second group, with favorable evolution under treatment. Comorbidities (obesity and oncological diseases) were reported in both groups and are risk factors for complications appearing (p < 0.001). All pediatric cases admitted to our clinic evolved favorably and no death was recorded. Conclusions: Clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with COVID-19 are age-related. In the first group, 85.29% of 0–4 years old children experienced digestive symptoms, whereas in the second group 83.78% underwent mild and moderate respiratory symptoms for the 5–12 age range. The potential effects of COVID-19 infection in children older than 5 years should encourage caregivers to vaccinate and improve the prognosis among pediatric patients at risk.

Актуальність. Частота розвитку епілептичних нападів у хворих, які перенесли інсульт, коливається в широкому діапазоні — від 3 до понад 60 % [8, 11–15]. Сьогодні в темі постінсультної епілепсії залишаються до кінця не вивченими чимало аспектів цієї проблеми, в тому числі питання щодо призначення протиепілептичних препаратів. Мета дослідження — визначити прогноз розвитку симптоматичної епілепсії після інсульту залежно від прийому антиконвульсантів пацієнтами після першого епілептичного нападу. Матеріали та методи. Комплексно обстежено 1012 пацієнтів (562 чоловіки і 450 жінок) віком від 49 до 90 років, які перенесли ішемічний інсульт протягом 2011–2014 років. Під час проведення аналізу стану всіх 1012 пацієнтів було встановлено, що протягом 6 місяців після перенесеного інсульту хоча б один епілептичний напад було зафіксовано у 161 пацієнта. За типом нападів переважали фокальні (89,9 %; р < 0,001), і лише в 11,1 % пацієнтів були діагностовані первинно-генералізовані епілептичні напади. Результати та обговорення. Для порівняння перебігу стану пацієнтів з інсультом після першого епілептичного нападу нами були сформовані подібні групи: перша (n = 81) і друга (n = 80). У першій групі призначали протиепілептичні препарати після першого епілептичного нападу, у другій групі не призначали. Стан пацієнтів було оцінено через рік після виникнення першого епілептичного нападу. Критеріями оцінки були: наявність другого епілептичного нападу і більше, тобто діагностика симптоматичної постінсультної епілепсії, або взагалі відсутність жодного епілептичного нападу. Відповідно до результатів спостереження, у першій групі, яка приймала антиконвульсанти, протягом року повторні епілептичні напади були зафіксовані у 22 пацієнтів, що становило 27,1 %, тоді як у другій групі, де не проводилося лікування антиконвульсантами, протягом року повторні епілептичні напади були зафіксовані у 43 пацієнтів, що становило 53,75 %. Висновок. Дані результати є підставою для подальших досліджень та можливої рекомендації призначення протиепілептичних препаратів вже після першого епілептичного нападу у пацієнтів, які перенесли інсульт.