[Immunobiomarkers in healthy children from two Polish cities]. / Immunobiomarkery w populacji zdrowych dzieci z dwóch polskich miast.

Determination of lymphocyte subpopulation values and immunoglobulin concentrations is an important tool in the assessment of immunologic system. The only way to establish their reference values in pediatrics is to perform research on large populations of healthy children from different age ranges in various areas of the world. Such research was conducted within the framework of the Central European Study of Air pollution and Respiratory Health (CESAR). It involved examination of children 9-11 years old from six countries in Central-Eastern Europe. We present the results of the Polish section of CESAR and compare them to the data provided by different authors from all over the world. Our data are relatively numerous: we examined 80 children recruited from primary schools in two Polish cities, Swietochlowice and Pszczyna. The values are similar to those obtained by other researchers. There is a need to establish an extensive and uniform data base of immunobiomarkers for healthy children in different age groups.

[Food allergy--results of an epidemiologic study in school children]. / Alergia pokarmowa--wyniki badan epidemiologicznych u dzieci w wieku szkolnym.

Within the CESAR (Central European Study on Air pollution and Respiratory Health) the prevalence of food allergy in children was assessed by parental answers to standardized health questionnaire. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 3079 children 7-11 years old and living in four towns in Poland (Kielce, Swietochlowice, Kedzierzyn-Kozle and Kielce). The relationship between food allergy in children and other allergic diseases symptoms and environmental factors was also evaluated. CESAR study suggested on 130 (4.2%) children suffering from food allergy.

[Allergies in children from Sosnowiec, Poland]. / Wystepowanie chorób alergicznych w populacji dzieciecej Sosnowca.

Epidemiological surveys demonstrate the rapid increase in allergic diseases all over the world. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of allergic diseases among school children living in Sosnowiec. In 2001 (grant from the Polish Scientific Research Committee KBN 4PO5D 08619) using the epidemiological studies ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) and CESAR (Central European Study on Air Pollution and Respiratory Health), we carried out a cross-sectional study on 2000 children (519 children 6-7 yrs old and 1481 children 13-14 yrs old) living in the city of Sosnowiec. The assessment of respiratory and allergic health status was done by use of ISAAC/CESAR questionnaire. A diagnosis of asthma was reported in 5.0% of the 6-7 yrs old children and 3.6% of the 13-14 yrs old children; the prevalence of wheezing: 22.5% and 16.5% respectively; the prevalence of pollen allergy: 10.3% and 10.8% respectively. Our study suggested that prevalence of allergic diseases may reach 30% in the population of school children in Sosnowiec.