Intrauterine or perinatally transmitted infections are a significant cause of fetal and neonatal mortality and an important factor for morbidity in early and late childhood. Vertically transmitted infections have been grouped in the TORCH acronym, which includes mainly viral infections. In this review we present the current methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of viral infections in pregnant women. In addition, the possible methods of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of these viruses were discussed. 

Skin lesions among newborns and infants is one of the most common reasons for parents to make an appointment with a paediatrician. Due to the incomplete development and functioning of the epidermis, newborn and infant’s skin is more prone to lesions. Most of the skin conditions are transient and requires only observation. In some cases, symptomatic treatment will be needed. Only a few conditions will require use of antibiotics or antifungal medicines. This article provides a general overview of chosen skin conditions among newborns and infants. 

Hypoglycemia is significant clinical problem in neonatology, most often connected with adaptation to extrauterine life. As glucose is a basic energetic substrate necessary for functioning of central nervous system cells, decreasing of serum glucose concentration below the so-called ‘critical value’ leads to irreversible damage of the brain. There is no single definition of neonatal hypoglycemia determined, however, according to Polish authors, hypoglycemia in the first day of life should be diagnosed when capillary blood glucose is < 45 mg/dL (2.5 mmol/L) regardless to birth weight or fetal age. Symptoms of hypoglycemia in a newborn are nonspecific, and it may often be oligo- or asymptomatic. The paper discusses the risk groups of neonatal hypoglycemia, as well as the classification and causes of hypoglycemia newborns, including transient situations and pathologies associated with persistent hypoglycemia. Presented guidelines for clinical management include monitoring neonates at risk, correcting hypoglycemia, diagnostic procedures to determine the cause and implementing causal treatment. 

Wilms tumour is the most common renal neoplasm in children. Approximately 10% of cases are associated with genetic syndromes. Initially WT is asymptomatic but with the development of the tumour abdominal mass or swelling, abdominal pain, hematuria, hypertension may be observed. In case of a suspected renal lesion, imaging studies should be performed. The most common Wilms tumour histology is a triphasic appearance containing undifferentiated blastema, fibroblast-like stroma and epithelial elements. Marker of unfavourable histology is anaplasia. Precursor lesions of Wilms tumour are nephrogenic rests (NR), which represent persistent embryonic renal tissue. In 2016 The Renal Tumour Study Group of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP-RTSG) developed a new protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of WT, the UMBRELLA SIOP-RTSG 2016. Wilms tumor is an example of the progress made in pediatric oncology. 

An altered gut microbiota composition and/or activity (dysbiosis) contributes to the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Consequently, there is an interest in the interventions targeting gut microbiota, including probiotics. Here, the aim was to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of probiotics for the management and prevention of atopic dermatitis in children. The Cochrane Library and MEDLINE (both up to November 2019) were searched for randomized controlled trials or their meta-analyses relevant to probiotics and atopic dermatitis. The number of trials – almost 70 trials involving over 9,500 subjects – indicates a vast interest in the use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis. Data suggest that probiotics (as a class) may be effective in the treatment and prevention of atopic dermatitis, although the effect size may be disputable. The role of specific probiotics (single or in combination) remains unclear. Not all probiotics are equal. The efficacy and safety of each have to be evaluated separately. If a physician and/or care provider is planning to use a specific probiotic, it is worth discussing with parents whether the expected benefits are in line with their expectations and worth the cost. 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is primarily Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), i.e. chronic diseases with inflammation and increased intestinal permeability. In clinical practice, endoscopic examination with histopathological evaluation was used for the diagnosis of IBD, because of the invasiveness of this study, biomarkers needed for diagnosis and monitoring of the course of the disease are sought. Determination of the severity of inflammatory changes in the course of inflammatory bowel disease is the basis for the diagnosis and monitoring of changes. So far, endoscopy and histopathological examination are included in the canon of diagnostic tests. For years, a laboratory parameter has been sought that is characterized by high sensitivity and specificity that would enable a diagnosis to be made quickly and easily. Recently, more and more attention has been focused around biochemical markers that would allow direct – i.e. only within the intestine – to point to ongoing inflammation. From a variety of data it appears that such a potential marker may be fecal calprotectin (CLP). The increase in CLP concentration in feces is observed in patients with CD and UC, while in healthy individuals and persons with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) it is in the reference range. An increase in the concentration of CLP in the stool indicates an increased permeability of the intestinal barrier and the higher the higher the activity of the disease processes (depth of the mucosal infiltration and the surface of inflammation). Due to the fact that inflammation, digestive disorders and intestinal mucosa permeability are observed during the course of IBD, an assessment of laboratory parameters such as eosinophilic neurotoxin (EDN), pancreatic elastase, secretory IgA, β2-defensin, zonulin, alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), citrulline, sugar absorption test, fatty acid binding proteins (I-FABP), occludin, dimeric pyruvate kinase M2-PK and fecal histamine is presented. 

In developed countries, the incidence of urolithiasis increases by 6-10% per year and its occurrence affects patients of all ages. It is estimated that in Poland, this disease affects about 15 000 children and about 20% of them require surgical treatment. Although minimally invasive procedures such as: URSL, RIRS, PCNL, and ESWL are commonly performed, there are still indications for open surgery. In 2009, a combination of open and endoscopic surgery to remove kidney stones was developed at our Clinic. This procedure allows to leave the parenchyma undamaged. Urolithiasis in children is a severe interdisciplinary problem because of its more common prevalence. It requires the care of a nephrologist (determining the reasons for its occurrence and the use of appropriate prevention to prevent the formation of new stones). Its formation requires a thorough recognition, proper treatment by a nephrologist and the use of efficient, effective and minimally invasive surgical procedure. 

Introduction: The prevalence of congenital hydrocephalus is reported to be 5 per 10 000 births. It is associated with high risk of development abnormalities and complications of surgical treatment.

The aim of this work was to analyse the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in newborns with congenital hydrocephalus depending on its cause and to propose a management algorithm.

Method: We retrospectively analysed medical documentation of 431 newborns with vetriculomegaly Children with congenital hydrocephalus were devided into 2 groups: 1. newborns with hydrocephalus caused by central nervous system defect;  2. newborns with  different ethiology of hydrocephalus.

Results: Causes of hydrocephalus in group 1 were: myelomeningocele, aqueductal stenosis, arachnoid cyst and other complex central nervous system defect; in group 2 were: prenatal bleeding, cytomegalovirus and T. gondii infections, brain tumors and hydrocephalus of unknown etiology. Diagnosis was based on ultrasound scans, magnetic resonance or computer tomography of the brain. Decompression of hydrocephalus was carried out temporarily through: ventricular puncture, implantation of the Rickham reservoir and external ventricular drainage. There were no significant differences in the frequency of each interventions in the studied groups. Newborns with hydrocephalus caused by central nervous system defect had significantly more often ventriculoperitoneal shunts implanted. 

Conclusions: The most often cause of hydrocephalus is myelomeningocele. It seems advisable to extend the diagnostics to magnetic resonance imaging in children with this diagnosis. In selected cases genetic tests should be done. In newborns with hydrocephalus caused by central nervous system defect ventriculoperitoneal shunts implantation is a necessary therapeutic procedure three times more often than in the other cases. 

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe pemphigoid cutaneous reactions to drugs, often life-threatening, with extensive loss of epidermis. In the article, we present a case of 7-year-old boy who was diagnosed with SJS/TEN after taking lamotrigin. Standardy 

Rotaviruses (RVs) commonly found in the pediatric population are the leading causes of diarrhea among the youngest children. With age, reinfections often occur, but each subsequent episode tends to be milder. RVs can also occur in people traveling, especially to developing countries and constitute one of the factors of traveler’s diarrhea. The paper presents and discusses a case of rotavirus gastroenteritis during a trip to Egypt. 

The 52nd Annual Meeting of ESPGHAN (European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition) was held in Glasgow (Scotland) on June 5-8, 2019. On the meeting research on prebiotic human milk oligosaccharides and their substitutes in formulas was presented. The interview discusses research reports with particular emphasis on new compositions of oligosaccharides with prebiotic properties, including postbiotic oligosaccharides, and their importance in shaping the intestinal microbiome, the impact on the intestinal barrier and the functioning of the immune system.