Not all probiotics are equal. The clinical effects and safety of any single probiotic or combination of probiotics should not be extrapolated to other probiotics. The efficacy and safety should be established for each probiotic(s). This article summarizes data on the efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (American Type Culture Collection, ATCC, 53103) in children and adults. To identify relevant data, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library were searched up toJune 2015. Only randomized controlled trials or their systematic reviews were considered for inclusion.

Oral food challenge (OFC) is one of the most reliable diagnostic tests for food allergy, particularly in infants and young children, in whom symptoms are nonspecific. In the literature there are present many different OFC protocols. This paper is a comprehensive study of the recommended diagnostic procedures in children, who are suspected of being allergic to cow’s milk (CMA). It updates and broadens the guidelines published in 2011.The aim of the paper is to adapt to Polish conditions the current guidelines of the international medical societies. Firstly, a systematic literature reviewwas performed in order to identify guidelines and recommendations regarding the role and the rules of conducting OFC in case of CMA suspicion.The review was performed by searching three databases, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE, for papers published until May 2015. 10 publications met the inclusion criteria. On the basis of those papers, a unified document was created and assessed by a group of experts. After having considered all the remarks, a consensus, standard procedure for performing the oral food challenge in children with CMA was established and a detailed OFC protocol was devised.

In this paper we present guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of anaphylaxis to food allergens in infants and young children. The guidelines are the adaptation of standards recently published by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI).The document is the result of panel discussion of Food Allergy Working Group of the Polish Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (PTGHiŻDz) and external experts

Fermented infant formulae, as well as pre- and pro-biotic-containing formulae, are often used to prevent and relieve gastrointestinal symptoms in infants.The beneficial effects of the fermented infant formulae are due to the compounds, formed during the process of fermentation. Potential mechanismsof action of the formulae include theirs effect on gastric emptying, intestinal transit, colonic bacterial flora and on the digestibility of proteins and lactose. In spite of the initial evidence of beneficial effects of fermented infant formulae, further research is needed in order to validate and confirm the results and to better understand theirs mechanisms of action.

Authors discuss selected scientific reports presented during 8th Congress on Pediatric Transplantation - IPTA (International Pediatric Transplant Association), San Francisco March, 2015.

The article is a review and summary of current information on available in Poland milk formulas and milk substitutes and the indications and contraindications for their use. It also includes opinions about popular nowadays among parents vegetable milk and milk of mammals, from other animals than cows and presents position on their use in infants and young children.

The dental caries and periodontal diseases are the most common oral diseases occurring in children and adolescents. Caries disease refers to 60-90% of children and young people; periodontal disease affects 1-46% of children and youth. The characteristic form of tooth decay in children is early childhood caries. Deciduous and immature permanent teeth that have a reduced mineralization, due to the anatomy and histology are more susceptible to decay than the permanent teeth of adults, and its course is characterized by high dynamics. Periodontal diseases are classified as inflammation of the gums and periodontal inflammations. Gums and periodontal diseases are largely caused by the pathogens present in the plaque.The relationship between oral diseases and general diseases provides a basis for determining dentistry as oral medicine. Modern dentistry should be seen holistically for providing oral health and whole body because of relationship.

Adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy or tonsillotomy are the most frequent surgical procedures performed in pediatric ENT wards. Complications can occuras during any other surgical treatment and therefore identification of proper indications for these procedures is an important safety measure. Indications for these procedures are sleep disordered breathing, speech and swallowing disturbances, malocclusion and abnormal craniofacial development, PFAPA syndrome, chronic otitis media with effusion and chronic sinusit

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital heart defects. ASD is characterised by a left-to-right shunt through the interatrial septum, which causes right heart overload and increased pulmonary flow. Children with ASD are free of symptoms, but with passage of time they may present with atrial arrhythmias, right ventricular failure and pulmonary arterial hypertension, which is the most serious complication of the defect. Early detection and appropriate treatment of ASD prevents the development of complications and helps in attaining the anticipated life expectancy. In this work wedescribe the basic anatomy, embryo genesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, treatment as well as additional issues involved in the long-term care of patients with ASD.

Mother’s milk and breastfeeding is the healthiest way of feeding infants and young children. A woman’s diet during pregnancy and lactation should bewell balanced, containing products of high quality and nutritive value. Malnutrition in pregnant woman can lead to fetal intrauterine growth restriction and maternal health problems. There is no proof that the elimination of potentially allergenic products from the maternal diet during pregnancy andlactation reduces the risk of allergies in the child. Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is the most common food allergy in newborns and young infants. The recommended method for prevention of allergies in the child is exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life. In confirmed cases of CMPA itis recommended that the mother continues breastfeeding, but excludes all cow’s milk derived dairy products from her diet and supplements calcium.

In this paper we present a new approach to pediatricians’ and family doctors’ tasks in preventive health care in early childhood. The principles of preventive health examination and medical child’s checkup were described. Also health education, health promotion and caring for children with special health care needs were presented. In this approach family doctors and pediatricians become advisors in the matters of health and wellness of children and their families.

In this paper we present the role and tasks of pediatricians and family doctors in preventive health care of school-age children and adolescents. Standards in preventive health care and school health examination guidelines were described. Additionally, health education for students and their parents and health care for pupils with special needs were presented.

Bite wounds in children are very common. According to global data, 1% of children reporting at hospital Accident and Emergency units are victims of animal bites. About 300 to 400 patients with such wounds are reffered each year to the A&E Department of the children’s hospital at the Nieklanska street,Warsaw. Dogs are most often responsible for attacking and biting children, secondly cats and thirdly people. Wounds inflicted by humans are rare, but there is a high risk of infection (60% of these wounds become infected). Antibiotic therapy is not necessary in all cases. Antibiotics are recommended forvery extensive or deep penetrating wounds, or when there are signs of infection. The mental trauma that can occur in a child should also be considered.

Neonatal infants, especially preterm, treated in intensive care units, are a group of patients particularly vulnerable to painful procedures. Identification ofpain and symptoms in response to the pain is an important element of proper care for the youngest patients. Doctors’ fears of side effects of analgesics arethe reason for the resignation of their application. This paper presents the basic principles of pain relief by the AAP and WHO, describes analgesics used in neonates, their dosages, duration of action and side effects. It outlines the strategy for the treatment of pain during the various procedures, including the treatment of the post-operative pain. The above data should contribute to the safe use of analgesics, reduce the risk of their side-effects and assureus the need to reduce the suffering of young patients.

Trichobezoar, also called a hair tumor, is a rare form of a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract. Symptomps due to its presence are non-specific. The endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract plays the main role in the diagnosis. The paper presents a case report of 12-year-old girl with a trichobezoar.