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Research on Pediatric Asthma and Pulmonary Diseases
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Research on Pediatric Asthma and Pulmonary Diseases

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 8837

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Davor Plavec

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Medical Faculty, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
2. Prima Nova, Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: allergy; pulmonology; lung function; clinical trials; occupational health; sports medicine
Prof. Dr. Mirjana Turkalj

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Srebrnjak Children’s Hospital, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: pathophysiological mechanisms of asthma and allergic diseases; specific immunotherapy; primary immunodeficiency; food allergy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Air pollution, early childhood exposure to smoke, respiratory infections, pollen and allergies are triggers for asthma, one of the most common childhood diseases among children, meaning that this disease is a widely researched subject. This life-long lung condition affects children usually from an early age, affecting their capability of performing daily activities, which could potentially lead to a lack of social relationships, as well as mental health problems due to this life-threatening disease.

Some of the symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness and while we cannot cure asthma, our job as pediatricians is to improve our knowledge and to carry out more research in pathophysiology and pathogenesis to help us to understand the disease better and to improve our approach to treatment and use of drugs to prevent flare ups.

Prof. Dr. Davor Plavec
Prof. Dr. Mirjana Turkalj
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • asthma
  • pulmonary disease
  • bronchitis
  • bronchiolitis
  • allergy
  • air pollution
  • passive smoking
  • respiratory infection

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 253 KiB  
Article
Parents’ Beliefs about Medicines and Their Influence on Inhaled Corticosteroid Adherence in Children with Asthma
by Jasna Petrić Duvnjak, Anita Ursic, Antonela Matana and Ivana Medvedec Mikic
Children 2024, 11(2), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11020167 - 27 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1359
Abstract
The most widespread chronic condition observed amid children globally is asthma. Only half of children with asthma adhere to their prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy. Parents’ emotions and perspectives regarding asthma have an impact on inhalation corticosteroid adherence. The participants in this study [...] Read more.
The most widespread chronic condition observed amid children globally is asthma. Only half of children with asthma adhere to their prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy. Parents’ emotions and perspectives regarding asthma have an impact on inhalation corticosteroid adherence. The participants in this study were 148 parents of children with asthma, with the aim to redintegrate their beliefs about medicines in general and specifically of ICS and the impact on ICS adherence in children with asthma. Children were mostly male (66.9%), older than five years (58.8%), parents were female, mean age 38, employed, and with a history of consumption of some form of corticosteroids. Parents’ answers show that 50% of them disagreed with the statement that medicines are addictive, and 90% agree that medicine helps many to live better. A percentage of 77.7% of parents acknowledge that their child’s health relies on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), and 86.5% of parents agree that these medications safeguard their child from worsening health. Most of the parents (93.2%) adhere to the guidelines and instructions of the doctor. In summary, parents who hold the belief that medicines are neither overused nor harmful tend to exhibit a higher adherence. Furthermore, those with elevated adherence levels express lower levels of concern regarding the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in their children’s asthma therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Pediatric Asthma and Pulmonary Diseases)
14 pages, 915 KiB  
Article
Socioeconomic and Health Determinants of the Prevalence of COVID-19 in a Population of Children with Respiratory Diseases and Symptoms
by Agata Wypych-Ślusarska, Karolina Krupa-Kotara, Klaudia Oleksiuk, Joanna Głogowska-Ligus, Jerzy Słowiński and Ewa Niewiadomska
Children 2024, 11(1), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11010088 - 11 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1426
Abstract
Background: Most epidemiological studies indicate that bronchial asthma is not a risk factor for COVID-19, but previous analyses have not additionally focused on the socioeconomic determinants of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms. Aims: This research aimed to investigate [...] Read more.
Background: Most epidemiological studies indicate that bronchial asthma is not a risk factor for COVID-19, but previous analyses have not additionally focused on the socioeconomic determinants of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms. Aims: This research aimed to investigate the correlation between the socioeconomic status of families and the prevalence of respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory symptoms in children, in addition to exploring their association with the prevalence of COVID-19. The study involved a cross-sectional epidemiological investigation conducted in 2022, encompassing 2454 students from elementary schools in Poland. The parents of the students completed a questionnaire modeled after the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Socioeconomic status (SES) indicators were determined based on parental education, self-reported economic status, and housing conditions. To assess the impact of social factors and health on the occurrence of COVID-19, odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. The findings revealed several COVID-19 risk factors, including higher maternal (OR 2.2; 95%CI: 1.3–3.0) and paternal education (OR 1.9; 95%CI: 1.3–2.4), urban residence (OR 1.7; 95%CI: 1.3–2.1), the presence of mold in residences (OR 1.7; 95%CI: 1.0–2.3), bronchitis (OR 1.5; 95%CI: 1.2–2.0), and chronic cough (OR 1.8; 95%CI: 1.3–2.4). Further analysis, stratifying children based on their baseline health status (i.e., presence or absence of asthma, bronchitis, and chronic cough), indicated that higher parental education increased the risk of COVID-19 solely for children without pre-existing conditions. The occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections was found to be notably associated with mold exposure in children who did not have bronchial asthma. Rigorous multivariate analyses substantiated the collective impact of factors such as residential environment, the existence of mold and moisture, and a history of bronchitis. This study’s conclusions highlight a higher frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infections in cases where bronchitis had been diagnosed previously and chronic cough was prevalent. Interestingly, the initially hypothesized higher prevalence of COVID-19 among children with bronchial asthma did not receive confirmation in our findings. This study highlights the importance of urban residence, exposure to mold or dampness, and higher parental education in the incidence of COVID-19. Higher parental education was a significant factor in increasing the risk of COVID-19 among children without bronchitis, chronic cough, and asthma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Pediatric Asthma and Pulmonary Diseases)
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11 pages, 291 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Easy-to-Use Bronchiolitis Scores in the Post-COVID-19 Era—An Observational Study
by María del Mar Martín-Latorre, Leticia Martínez-Campos, Manuel Martín-González, Gracia Castro-Luna, David Lozano-Paniagua and Bruno José Nievas-Soriano
Children 2023, 10(12), 1834; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10121834 - 21 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1897
Abstract
In the post-restrictions COVID-19 period, the incidence of bronchiolitis in infants has increased considerably. Several scores determine the degree of severity of the bronchiolitis episode, but few are clinician-friendly. The main aim of this research was to find the easy-to-use score that most [...] Read more.
In the post-restrictions COVID-19 period, the incidence of bronchiolitis in infants has increased considerably. Several scores determine the degree of severity of the bronchiolitis episode, but few are clinician-friendly. The main aim of this research was to find the easy-to-use score that most accurately estimated the severity of patients’ infections according to their clinical situations and most accurately predicted the need for hospital admission. An observational cross-sectional study was performed in a reference pediatric hospital during the post-restrictions period of the COVID-19 pandemic (2021 and 2022). A comparison was made between the severity estimate provided by five international acute bronchiolitis scales and the clinical severity of the acute bronchiolitis episode. Three hundred and seventy-seven patients participated in the investigation, with a mean age of 5.68 months; 68.7% of the participants had a mild episode of bronchiolitis, 24.5% had a moderate episode, and 6.9% had a severe episode. The severity estimated by the Tal scale modified by McCallum showed a statistically significant correlation with the clinical severity established by clinical criteria (0.836; p < 0.001). It showed a high correlation with other international scores, such as the Wang score (0.820; p < 0.05) and the Wood–Downes–Ferrés score (0.936; p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, the constituent variables of the modified Tal score appeared in the final model that predicts the need for hospital admission. In the context of increased incidence after COVID-19, the Tal score modified by McCallum is an easy-to-use measuring instrument that presents an excellent concordance with the clinical severity estimated at first care contact. It also offers a more significant prediction of the need for hospital admission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Pediatric Asthma and Pulmonary Diseases)
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14 pages, 1955 KiB  
Article
Clinical Characteristics and Immune Responses in Children with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia during Pneumonia Episodes: A Case–Control Study
by Danli Lu, Wenhao Yang, Rui Zhang, Yan Li, Tianyu Cheng, Yue Liao, Lina Chen and Hanmin Liu
Children 2023, 10(11), 1727; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10111727 - 24 Oct 2023
Viewed by 2014
Abstract
Objective: This study explored the clinical features and immune responses of children with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) during pneumonia episodes. Methods: The 61 children with PCD who were admitted to hospital because of pneumonia were retrospectively enrolled into this study between April 2017 [...] Read more.
Objective: This study explored the clinical features and immune responses of children with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) during pneumonia episodes. Methods: The 61 children with PCD who were admitted to hospital because of pneumonia were retrospectively enrolled into this study between April 2017 and August 2022. A total of 61 children with pneumonia but without chronic diseases were enrolled as the control group. The clinical characteristics, levels of inflammatory indicators, pathogens, and imaging features of the lungs were compared between the two groups. Results: The PCD group had higher levels of lymphocytes (42.80% versus 36.00%, p = 0.029) and eosinophils (2.40% versus 1.25%, p = 0.020), but lower neutrophil counts (3.99 versus 5.75 × 109/L, p = 0.011), percentages of neutrophils (46.39% versus 54.24%, p = 0.014), CRP (0.40 versus 4.20 mg/L, p < 0.001) and fibrinogen (257.50 versus 338.00 mg/dL, p = 0.010) levels. Children with PCD and children without chronic diseases were both most commonly infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (24.6% versus 51.9%). Children with PCD had significantly more common imaging features, including mucous plugging (p = 0.042), emphysema (p = 0.007), bronchiectasis (p < 0.001), mosaic attenuation (p = 0.012), interstitial inflammation (p = 0.015), and sinusitis (p < 0.001). Conclusion: PCD is linked to immune system impairment, which significantly contributes to our understanding of the pathophysiology of this entity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Pediatric Asthma and Pulmonary Diseases)
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Review

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9 pages, 248 KiB  
Review
Nasal Nitric Oxide in Children: A Review of Current Outreach in Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
by Iva Mrkić Kobal, Mirjana Turkalj and Davor Plavec
Children 2023, 10(10), 1671; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10101671 - 9 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1416
Abstract
Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) is a gas synthesized by the inducible and constitutive NO synthase (NOS) enzyme in the airway cells of the nasal mucosa. Like lung nitric oxide, it is thought to be associated with airway inflammation in various respiratory diseases in [...] Read more.
Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) is a gas synthesized by the inducible and constitutive NO synthase (NOS) enzyme in the airway cells of the nasal mucosa. Like lung nitric oxide, it is thought to be associated with airway inflammation in various respiratory diseases in children. The aim of our review was to investigate the current state of use of nNO measurement in children. A comprehensive search was conducted using the Web of Science and PubMed databases specifically targeting publications in the English language, with the following keywords: nasal NO, children, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, acute rhinosinusitis, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), and cystic fibrosis (CF). We describe the use of nNO in pediatric allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, acute rhinosinusitis, PCD, and CF based on the latest literature. nNO is a noninvasive, clinically applicable test for use in pediatric allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, acute rhinosinusitis, PCD, and CF. It can be used as a complementary method in the diagnosis of these respiratory diseases and as a monitoring method for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and acute and chronic rhinosinusitis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Pediatric Asthma and Pulmonary Diseases)
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