Frequency of sweet and salty snack consumption among children in relation to their mothers' education level.

Aim To investigate the frequency of consumption of sweet and salty snacks among children aged 2-18 years in relation to their mothers' education level. Methods A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted in five dental practices at the School of Medicine of the University of Mostar from May to October 2022. The data were collected from medical records. Results: Out of a total of 477 children, 172 (36.1%) had mothers with a high school education, while 305 (63.9%) had mothers with a university degree. In the group of preschool children (aged 2-6 years), there were 42 mothers with high school education and 105 with university degree. In the group of school children (age 7-18 years) there were 130 mothers with high school education and 200 with university degree. The difference in the consumption of sweetened beverages among children of mothers with high school and university was not statistically significant. Similar results were found for the consumption of salty snacks, lollipops, caramels and candies. The frequency of the consumption of biscuits, chocolate and cakes (several times a day) was statistically significantly higher among the children of mothers with high school education (p=0.04), especially among school children. Eating habits of children, regardless of the level of education of their mothers, differed significantly only in the consumption of lollipops, caramels, and candies (p=0.03), which were consumed once a day by 79 (63.7%) schoolchildren and 45 (36.3%) of pre-schoolers. Conclusion A higher level of education among mothers does not necessarily equate to proper nutritional knowledge.

COVID-19 Seroprevalence in Children during Pandemic Waves in Sarajevo, a Single Center Experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to present data on the prevalence of seropositive children tested in the laboratory of the Eurofarm polyclinic in Sarajevo, from September 2020 to May 2021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. RESULTS: In the total of 762 tested children, 187 were positive (24.5%), based on cut-off value. Of all the positive cases 42.8% were female while 57.2% were male. There were 10.1% of positive children in the first age group (0-5 years), 44.4% in the second group (6-13 years), and 45.5% in the third group (14-18 years). There was no statistically significant difference in seroprevalence between age groups and gender. The lowest seroprevalence (3.6%) was observed in October 2020 after the first pandemic wave, and the highest seroprevalence (60.3%) was observed in April 2021, corresponding to the third pandemic wave. CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed that the seroprevalence in children was low, especially during the first year of the pandemic. In the second year of the pandemic, there was an evident statistically significant increase in the number of seropositive children. Similar data have been shown in studies for adults.

Epidemiological Insight of Pertussis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Background: Pertussis is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The bacterium releases toxins that can lead to complications on the respiratory and nervous systems and even death. The disease occurs in people of all ages, but it is most severe in children under the age of five. Objective: To present epidemiological data on this disease in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) from 2018 to 2022, and from Central Bosnia Canton (CBC) for the period February-June 2018. Methods: This descriptive epidemiological study collected data from the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the CBC and the Institute for Public Health of FB&H. Results: In the specified period in the FB&H was confirmed 93 cases of Pertussis, 61 cases were reported from CBC, a total of 9 in Bugojno city. Confirmed cases from Bugojno were: 3 newborns, 3 infants, 2 three-year-old children and one 12-year-old child, 5 males and 4 females. Three children received first dose of Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis-Hemophilus influenza type B vaccine, six children were not vaccinated. Children were under the supervision of pediatricians and infectious disease specialists, the disease passed without serious complications. Conclusions: Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease that lasts for weeks. Recovery can be complete, but more serious complications are possible, especially in young children. With the discovery of the vaccine, morbidity and mortality from this disease has been significantly reduced. However, the disease is still present worldwide, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. By educating parents and educating the population on the importance of vaccination and achieving herd immunity, this disease can be completely eradicated in the near future. In recent years, many American and European countries recommend the immunization of pregnant women in the second half of pregnancy, which provides significant protection to newborns.

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in a Three-Year-Old Girl in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

OBJECTIVE: To present a rare disease, and to point out that clinical manifestations treated for a long period of time without an adequate response to therapy may be a manifestation of a rare disease. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 3-year-old girl who had been drinking a large amount of water for the previous ten days with frequent urination, and who experienced the worsening of symptoms of scalp dermatitis that had been treated for a year without success. Physical examination revealed a maculopapular rash on the scalp, neck and both ear shells, and exophthalmos of the right eye with periorbital edema. Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbits showed extensive lesions of the skull bones. Further diagnostic evaluation revealed similar lesions in other bone structures. Biopsy of the affected region, microscopic and immunohistochemical analysis led to diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis. CONCLUSION: Langerhans cell histiocytosis mostly occurs in the first three years of life. The incidence is 4-5 patients per million children under 15 years of life. The clinical presentation is highly variable, and can range from isolated, self-healing skin and bone lesions to life-threatening multisystem diseases. Due to the diverse clinical picture, that is often unrecognized, these patients are often referred to other specialists, resulting in the treatment of individual symptoms rather than the underlying disease.