Impact of COVID-19 vaccination on parental and childhood stress levels in Greece.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of COVID-19 vaccination on parental and childhood stress levels has not been thoroughly investigated. Our aim was to explore the above relationship and identify factors that may influence the dissemination of stress within the family during the pandemic. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional e-survey was conducted among a nationwide sample of parents in May 2021 in Greece. Parental stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Revised Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) tools. Childhood mental well-being was evaluated with the Children's Revised Impact of Event 13 (CRIES 13) scale. RESULTS: 1,703 unique questionnaires were analyzed; 19.5% of responders were completely vaccinated, 23.7% were partially vaccinated, 38.3% were awaiting vaccination, and 18.5% were classified as vaccine-hesitant (15.2% would delay, and 3.3% refused the vaccination). Stress levels were significantly lower in completely or partially vaccinated parents than in vaccine-hesitant ones (p<0.001 for PSS/IES-R). Vaccination status emerged as a strong and independent predictor of PSS and IES-R. A significant decrease in PSS and IES-R scores was observed in 991 participants between March 2020 and May 2021 (p<0.001 for PSS/IES-R). Vaccine uptake was associated with lower PSS and IES-R scores, irrespective of the phase of the pandemic or other sociodemographic factors. The CRIES 13 score of the participant's children (n=2,969) was 19.4 ±14.9 and positively correlated with the PSS and IES-R scores. Children whose parents were vaccinated had lower stress levels than those of vaccine-hesitant parents (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Parental vaccination against COVID-19 is a significant stress and anxiety predictor for both parents and their offspring. Parental and childhood stress levels were correlated, while the effect of vaccination was independent of the pandemic phase. The campaigns to promote vaccine uptake against COVID-19 should also highlight its potential benefit on the psychological well-being of the family.

Validation of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire in a sample of Greek children with allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND: Obstructive respiratory disorders, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma may impair sleep quality. The aim of this study is to validate the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) for Greek children from 6 to 14 years of age. No validated tool has been developed so far to assess sleep disturbances in Greek school-aged children. METHODS: We examined the reliability and validity of the CSHQ in a sample of children with allergic rhinitis (AR) and a non-clinical population of parents of these children as a proxy measure of children's AR quality of life (QoL) as evaluated by the Pediatric Allergic Rhinitis Quality of Life (PedARQoL) questionnaire. RESULTS: The CSHQ questionnaire Child's Form (CF) had a moderate internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha 0.671 and Guttman split-half coefficient of 0.563 when correlated with the PedARQoL (CF). There was also a moderate intraclass correlation of ICC = 0.505 between the responses to both questionnaires in the two visits. The CSHQ Parent's Form (PF) had a very good internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.928 and Guttman split-half coefficient of 0.798. There was a high intraclass correlation of 0.643 between the responses in the two visits. CONCLUSIONS: The Greek version of the CSHQ CF, but particularly the PF has proved to be a very reliable clinical instrument, which can be used in clinical trials for assessing sleep quality in school-aged children with sleep disturbances because of obstructive airway disorders, such as AR

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Validation of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire in a sample of Greek children with allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive respiratory disorders, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma may impair sleep quality. The aim of this study is to validate the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) for Greek children from 6 to 14 years of age. No validated tool has been developed so far to assess sleep disturbances in Greek school-aged children. METHODS: We examined the reliability and validity of the CSHQ in a sample of children with allergic rhinitis (AR) and a non-clinical population of parents of these children as a proxy measure of children's AR quality of life (QoL) as evaluated by the Pediatric Allergic Rhinitis Quality of Life (PedARQoL) questionnaire. RESULTS: The CSHQ questionnaire Child's Form (CF) had a moderate internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha 0.671 and Guttman split-half coefficient of 0.563 when correlated with the PedARQoL (CF). There was also a moderate intraclass correlation of ICC=0.505 between the responses to both questionnaires in the two visits. The CSHQ Parent's Form (PF) had a very good internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.928 and Guttman split-half coefficient of 0.798. There was a high intraclass correlation of 0.643 between the responses in the two visits. CONCLUSIONS: The Greek version of the CSHQ CF, but particularly the PF has proved to be a very reliable clinical instrument, which can be used in clinical trials for assessing sleep quality in school-aged children with sleep disturbances because of obstructive airway disorders, such as AR.

Assessment of IgE-mediated food allergies in children with atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory disease of the skin, which is characterised by a chronic relapsing course. AIM: The aim of the study was to assign the prevalence of clinically active food allergies among a group of children between 3 months and 7 years of age, with AD. METHODS: Eighty-eight children with AD were screened for specific IgE antibodies to food proteins. All patients with AD and specific IgE antibodies to food proteins were subjected to Oral Food Challenges (OFCs) with the relevant foods. RESULTS: Food-sensitised patients with moderate levels of sIgE had clinically active food allergy to milk (39.28%) and egg (42.34%) on the basis of positive OFCs. High IgE and eosinophilia had a prevalence of almost 80% and 25%, regardless of concomitant food sensitisation and disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, clinically active food allergies were recognised in 26.13% of children with AD. Nevertheless, no association was confirmed between food sensitisation and AD severity. High IgE and peripheral eosinophilia have not been found more prevalent among children with severe AD nor among children with food sensitisation. Infants and younger children with AD should be screened for an underlying food allergy, regardless of disease severity

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Assessment of IgE-mediated food allergies in children with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory disease of the skin, which is characterised by a chronic relapsing course. AIM: The aim of the study was to assign the prevalence of clinically active food allergies among a group of children between 3 months and 7 years of age, with AD. METHODS: Eighty-eight children with AD were screened for specific IgE antibodies to food proteins. All patients with AD and specific IgE antibodies to food proteins were subjected to Oral Food Challenges (OFCs) with the relevant foods. RESULTS: Food-sensitised patients with moderate levels of sIgE had clinically active food allergy to milk (39.28%) and egg (42.34%) on the basis of positive OFCs. High IgE and eosinophilia had a prevalence of almost 80% and 25%, regardless of concomitant food sensitisation and disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, clinically active food allergies were recognised in 26.13% of children with AD. Nevertheless, no association was confirmed between food sensitisation and AD severity. High IgE and peripheral eosinophilia have not been found more prevalent among children with severe AD nor among children with food sensitisation. Infants and younger children with AD should be screened for an underlying food allergy, regardless of disease severity.

Smoking effects on quality of life of allergic rhinitis patients after sublingual immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Although tobacco smoking is of great concern, there is no evidence for the effects of smoking on quality of life (QoL) results after sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). OBJECTIVE: This study aims tο explore any association between smoking habits (duration and quantity) and QoL results after SLIT in allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODOLOGY: One hundred and sixty three patients following SLIT for AR were participated. SLIT efficacy related to smoking was prospectively evaluated by means of validated widely used QoL questionnaires, either for assessing psychology (Zung Anxiety Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Zung Depression Scale and Beck Depression Inventory) or generic (Short Form-36) ones, pre- and immediately upon cessation of SLIT. Smoking habits were expressed in pack-years. RESULTS: Significant improvement of total symptoms score (T5SS) and of all QoL questionnaires' results were observed in our patients' group, both for smokers and non smokers. The comparison of changes between smokers and non smokers, controlling for the effect of all patients' characteristics, showed that there was no significant differences on improvement values. Additionally multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the effect of pack-years on the QoL scales was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that smoking habits (quantity of daily smoking and duration) do not influence the success of SLIT with regards to QoL outcomes.

Fairy tales: a compass for children's healthy development--a qualitative study in a Greek island.

BACKGROUND: Fairy tales have always been an integrated part of children's everyday life. In our days, they still represent important ways of helping the children share their desires and express their agonies and inner conflicts. The present descriptive qualitative study aims to describe parents' opinions and children's preferences regarding storytelling. METHODS: Four hundred and seventy parents took part in the study and were interviewed following a semi-structured guide with open-ended trigger questions. Data were processed via content analysis methods. RESULTS: Three main themes were constructed. The vast majority of interviewees acknowledged their strong belief in the power of fairy tales and stated that their children listen to stories at least once a week. Most of them use storytelling as an instructive tool, in order to soothe their children's anxieties or set examples for them. Concerning children's preferences, the majority of them choose classic fairy tales over modern ones with Little Red Riding Hood taking precedence over other famous stories. All participants acknowledged the fact that their children are amused and positively affected by storytelling, while young readers share their enthusiasm for fairy tales in many ways, mostly by talking about their favourite character. Finally, in relation to the villains, children seem to be satisfied or relieved when they are punished and only a small number of participants stated that the cruel punishment of bad characters creates feelings of fear to their kids. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study emphasize the crucial role that storytelling plays in children's life and normal development.

Pott's disease in a two-year-old girl.

Fractures in children require a specific treatment depending on age. While obstetric fractures usually heal well even in case of significant dislocations and conservative therapy, the proportion of operative interventions among all pediatric fractures is increasing with age. Though the vast majority of fractures in childhood are still treated non-operatively, a trend towards early operative interventions and cast-free mobilization has been noticeable in the recent years. The methods of operative stabilization differ between the respective age groups: While K-wire osteosynthesis and a minimal invasive approach using elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) are common in the group of school aged children, the use of external fixation and plate osteosynthesis has been accepted for the treatment of fractures in adolescents. Bioresorbable implants do not yet play a decisive role in the management of pediatric fractures. This review is focusing on the current indications and concepts for stabilization of frequent pediatric fractures.

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A among Greek children indicates that the virus is still prevalent: Implications for universal vaccination.

A national cross-sectional seroprevalence survey was conducted in order to evaluate the current seroepidemiology of hepatitis A among 1,383 children, aged 0-14 years, residing in Greece. Stratification of the study population was conducted according to age and area of residence. Sera from study participants were tested for the presence of anti-HAV IgG antibodies. Immigrant children, as well as children residing in rural areas, had lower immunization rates. Among unvaccinated children, the seroprevalence rate of anti-HAV was 17.1%. Nationality was shown to have a marginally significant effect since non-immunized immigrant children had a higher seroprevalence rate (22.4% vs. 15.9%, OR = 1.52, P = 0.064). Significant differences between geographic areas for both vaccination coverage and natural immunity were observed. The study findings indicate that hepatitis A is prevalent in Greece and therefore universal infant hepatitis A immunization should be implemented.

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B in Greek children 6 years after the implementation of universal vaccination.

The seroepidemiology of hepatitis B in children living in Greece 6 years post-implementation of universal infant immunization (1998) was studied. We collected 90-100 sera/year of age, stratified by geographic region. The prevalence of HbsAg(+) was 0.6% (95% CI 0.3-1.3) whereas 4.5% (95% CI 3.4-5.9%) of children over 12 months of age had evidence of past HBV infection. A significant decline in the prevalence of past infection between children born before and after 1998 (5.5% vs 2.9%; RR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.03-3.5) was noted. Conversely, the prevalence of past HBV infection did not change significantly among immigrant children. Reinforcement of early vaccination of immigrant population is necessary.

The role of breastfeeding and passive smoking on the development of severe bronchiolitis in infants.

AIM: Bronchiolitis is an acute infectious disease of the lower respiratory tract which causes the obstruction of bronchioles in children younger than 2 years. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of passive smoking alone and in conjunction with breastfeeding on the severity of acute bronchiolitis in infancy and the duration of hospitalisation. METHODS: We studied 240 consecutive infants aged from 6 to 24 months (137 boys and 103 girls) median age 14 months, who required hospital admission for acute bronchiolitis at the Paediatric Department of Democritus University Hospital, Alexandroupolis, Greece. The outcomes of interest were the severity of bronchiolitis and the duration of hospitalisation. RESULTS: Among the entire cohort, 122 (50.8%) children presented a severe attack of bronchiolitis. In multivariate regression analysis adjusting for confounding factors, breastfeeding for less than four months (aOR=6.1, 95% CI=3.4-10.7), exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (aOR=2.2, 95% CI=1.1-3.6) and their combination (aOR=16.2, 95% CI=6.0-34.3) showed significant association with severe bronchiolitis and prolonged hospitalisation. Passive smoking did not increase the risk of severe bronchiolitis, when infants breastfed for more than four months (aOR=1.9, 95% CI=0.8-5.1). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke worsens the symptoms and the prognosis of bronchiolitis, while breastfeeding seems to have a protective effect even in children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.