Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in children.

INTRODUCTION: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is one of the most common forms of interstitial lung disease in children. Due to its common association with occupational environment, it used to be considered an exclusively adult disease; however, hypersensitivity pneumonitis also affects the paediatric population, and is often associated with exposure to antigens in the home environment and with the pastime activities of children. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to present the current state of knowledge on hypersensitivity pneumonitis in children with a focus on the peculiarities of diagnostic investigation and management of the disease in this age group. The study includes a case report of the disease in a child. STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: In children, the most common factors causing HP are avian and fungal antigens present in the home environment. Diagnosis is based on the co-occurrence of characteristic clinical presentation, radiographic and pulmonary function tests findings, and a history of exposure to a potential triggering antigen. The main strategy in the management of HP is to eliminate the trigger factor with the use of a systemic corticosteroids therapy in severe or advanced cases. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the risk of irreversible changes in the respiratory tract, an early diagnosis is very important. A quick identification of the trigger factor and its elimination from the patient's environment makes it possible to apply a less aggressive treatment, and to improve the patient's prognosis. Unfortunately, due to its infrequent occurrence, hypersensitivity pneumonitis is often not taken into account in a differential diagnosis of respiratory diseases in children, which leads to a delayed diagnosis despite the characteristic clinical presentation of the disease.

Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS) Did Occur in Poland during Months with Low COVID-19 Prevalence, Preliminary Results of a Nationwide Register.

Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) is a new entity in children, likely associated with previous coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) infection. Most of the reports about PIMS come from countries particularly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to investigate the nature of inflammatory syndromes in Poland (country with low COVID-19 prevalence) and to perceive the emergence of PIMS in our country. On 25 May 2020, we launched a nationwide survey of inflammatory syndromes in children for retrospective (since 4 March 2020) and prospective data collection. Up to 28 July, 39 reported children met the inclusion criteria. We stratified them according to age (<5 and ≥ 5 years old) and COVID-19 status. The majority of children had clinical and laboratory features of Kawasaki disease, probably non-associated with COVID-19. However, children ≥5 years of age had PIMS characteristics, and nine children had COVID-19 confirmation. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of the PIMS register from a country with a low COVID-19 prevalence, and it proves that PIMS may emerge in any area involved in the COVID-19 pandemic. In a context of limited COVID-19 testing availability, other risk factors of PIMS, e.g., older age, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory syndromes in children.

[The differential diagnosis of asymmetry in infants].

Asymmetry in infants is a clinical condition in which abnormal body shape, posture or mobility is observed. It is characterized by diverse etiology, localization and severity. The most frequently noted kind is idiopathic asymmetry. Symptomatic asymmetry is less frequent and a variety of structural or systemic disorders underlie this disease. The dynamics of child development in the first year of life makes it necessary for clinicians to give an early diagnosis of asymmetry, which has a significant impact on the expected course of its development and intervention strategies. The aim of the study is to present the definitions, classification and differential diagnosis of asymmetry in infants.