Objectives: This study investigated the effects of socioeconomic changes and health system improvements in the past two decades on the epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Turkey. Methods: In total, 1488 children treated with a diagnosis of pneumonia in XXXX Training and Research Hospital Pediatrics Department between 2016 to 2021 were included in the present study. The patients’ demographic data, personal and family histories, and socioeconomic status were recorded. Results: Of the 1488 pediatric patients (46.8% girls; mean age:43.20 ± 41.04 months), 108 were aged 0–6 months (7.3%), 672 were aged 6–24 months (45.2%), 444 were aged 24–60 months (29.8%), and 264 were aged ≥ 60 months (17.7%). In total, 98% of patients underwent routine vaccination and the rate of seasonal influenza vaccination was 5.6%. Additionally, 444 patients (29.8%) had chronic disease and 276 of these had asthma. Furthermore, asthma and cerebral palsy were the most common chronic diseases. A family history of asthma in first-degree relatives was present in 396 patients (26.6%). Conclusion: In the past two decades, there have been substantial changes in the epidemiology of CAP in Turkey, due to socioeconomic changes, increasing urbanization, and health system improvements.

Background: The aim of this study was to document the clinical features of children with mosquito allergy and investigate the possible associations between demographic features and type of reactions in this population. Methods: Children with large local or unusual reactions after mosquito bites who attended to our outpatient pediatric allergy department were enrolled in the study along with control subjects. Results: A total of 180 children (94 with mosquito allergy and 86 age and sex-matched control subjects) with a median age of 6.8 years (IQR 5.5-9.3) were enrolled. Atopy (35.1% vs. 11.6%, p<0.001) and grass pollen sensitization (28.7% vs. 8.1%, p<0.001) were significantly more frequent in children with mosquito allergy. Skin prick test with mosquito allergen was positive in only 6 children (6,4%). Grass pollen sensitization was most common in children (28.7%) followed by sensitization to house dust mite (9.6%). 30 children (31.9%) had an accompanying atopic disease such as allergic rhinitis, asthma or atopic dermatitis. Bullae were significantly more frequent in children with asthma (41.7% vs.15.9, p=0.034). The median duration of symptoms after onset were significantly longer in patients with ecchymosis, with immediate wheals and in children whose symptoms start in 20 min to 4 hours after mosquito bites. Conclusions: The role of commercially available tests in the diagnosis of children with mosquito allergy is limited. There is an association between unusual, large local or exaggerated reactions after mosquito bites and allergic diseases in children. The severity of reactions increases with age and particularly in children with atopic background

Background: Periostin has emerged as a novel biomarker in the pathogenesis of T helper 2-type allergic diseases in the last years. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum periostin levels with clinical features in children with asthma. Methods: Children with physician-diagnosed asthma who attended regularly to an outpatient pediatric allergy and asthma center were enrolled in the study along with control subjects. Asthma severity and control status of the patients were evaluated according to recent GINA guidelines. Results: A total of 158 children (125 with asthma and 33 age and sex-matched control subjects) with a median age of 10.2 years (range 5.9-17.0) were enrolled. Asthma severity was mild in 41 (32.8%), moderate in 63 (50.4%) and severe in 21 (16.8%) children. Children with asthma had significantly higher periostin levels than controls (53.1 ± 13.1 vs 43.0 ± 11.2 ng/mL; p < 0.001). The mean serum periostin levels of children with severe asthma (63.8 ± 10.8) were significantly higher than in children with moderate asthma (53.3 ± 12.7) and mild asthma (47.4 ± 11.1) (p < 0.001). Serum periostin levels were found to be significantly correlated with asthma severity (Spearman’s rho [r]=0.41, p < 0.001). Results of multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated an association between serum periostin levels and asthma severity in children (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.15; p <0.001) Conclusion: Serum periostin levels may serve clinicians in identifying children with severe asthma.