Evaluation of Neurodevelopmental Screening Test Scores in Children with Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to hematological findings, neurological symptoms, and neurodevelopmental delay. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of vitamin B12 deficiency on the neurodevelopment of children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 89 children aged between 6 and 24 months without any complaints; 44 of these were evaluated in the study group (serum vitamin B12 <300 pg/mL) and 45 in the control group (serum vitamin B12 ≥300 pg/mL). Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II) and the Social Communication Area Screening Test (SCAST) were evaluated in each participant. RESULTS: The mean vitamin B12 level in the study group was 206.11 ± 9.1 pg/mL, and in the control group, it was 540.65 ± 24.1 pg/mL. When DDST-II results were analyzed, the rate of getting suspicious and abnormal results in the study group was significantly higher compared with the control group (p = 0.001). The rate of the "risky" SCAST results of the cases was found to be statistically significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (p = 0.003). Vitamin B12 values of patients with suspicious or abnormal DDST-II results and with risky SCAST results were found to be statistically significantly lower than those with normal neurodevelopmental screening tests results (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to neurodevelopmental delay in children, even in the absence of neurological and hematological symptoms or complaints, which highlights the importance of early detection and intervention of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Aeroallergen sensitization in school-age children with allergic rhinitis: What has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Background: Pandemic period may affect aeroallergen sensitization. Objective: The study aimed to investigate changes in allergen sensitivities of skin prick test (SPT) in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) during pandemic and to evaluate relationship with disease severity. Methods: In all, 164 AR patients with or without asthma, aged 6–17 years, who have undergone SPTs prior to the pandemic and after October 1, 2021 (18th month of the pandemic), were evaluated retrospectively. The wheal size of allergens in performed SPTs during and prior to the pandemic were compared. Detected changes in allergen sensitivities via SPT results were compared with changes in the disease severity parameters (AR severity, asthma severity, and the number of asthma exacerbations per year), frequency of upper respiratory tract infections and antibiotic use, laboratory parameters, demographic characteristics, and visual analogue scores (VAS). Results: House dust mites (HDMs), cat, pollen, Artemisia, and Cupressus sensitization increased in AR patients during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. HDM, mold, and pollen wheal diameters increased in SPTs. Proportion of polysensitization increased during the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic period (9.1% vs 3%; P < 0.001), and number of non-sensitized patients decreased during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period (7.9% vs 22.6%; P < 0.001). An increase in HDM sensitivity in SPTs was correlated with VAS for nasal blockage, and an increase in cat sensitivity was correlated with VAS for all nasal symptoms. Conclusion: We believe that inhalant allergen sensitization might have been affected by the lifestyle changes of patients during the pandemic. Hence, it is important to evaluate patients for allergen sensitization, especially patients with moderate/severe AR, to revise disease control measurements (AU)

Aeroallergen sensitization in school-age children with allergic rhinitis: What has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic?

BACKGROUND: Pandemic period may affect aeroallergen sensitization. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate changes in allergen sensitivities of skin prick test (SPT) in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) during pandemic and to evaluate relationship with disease severity. METHODS: In all, 164 AR patients with or without asthma, aged 6-17 years, who have undergone SPTs prior to the pandemic and after October 1, 2021 (18th month of the pandemic), were evaluated retrospectively. The wheal size of allergens in performed SPTs during and prior to the pandemic were compared. Detected changes in allergen sensitivities via SPT results were compared with changes in the disease severity parameters (AR severity, asthma severity, and the number of asthma exacerbations per year), frequency of upper respiratory tract infections and antibiotic use, laboratory parameters, demographic characteristics, and visual analogue scores (VAS). RESULTS: House dust mites (HDMs), cat, pollen, Artemisia, and Cupressus sensitization increased in AR patients during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. HDM, mold, and pollen wheal diameters increased in SPTs. Proportion of polysensitization increased during the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic period (9.1% vs 3%; P < 0.001), and number of non-sensitized patients decreased during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period (7.9% vs 22.6%; P < 0.001). An increase in HDM sensitivity in SPTs was correlated with VAS for nasal blockage, and an increase in cat sensitivity was correlated with VAS for all nasal symptoms. CONCLUSION: We believe that inhalant allergen sensitization might have been affected by the lifestyle changes of patients during the pandemic. Hence, it is important to evaluate patients for allergen sensitization, especially patients with moderate/severe AR, to revise disease control measurements.