[The Fetal Tobacco Syndrome - A statement of the Austrian Societies for General- and Family Medicine (ÖGAM), Gynecology and Obstetrics (ÖGGG), Hygiene, Microbiology and Preventive Medicine (ÖGHMP), Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine (ÖGKJ) as well as Pneumology (ÖGP)]. / Das Fetale Tabaksyndrom - Ein Statement der Österreichischen Gesellschaften für Allgemein- und Familienmedizin (ÖGAM), Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe (ÖGGG), Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin (ÖGHMP), Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde (ÖGKJ) sowie Pneumologie (ÖGP).

Over more than 50 years, the nocuous effects of smoking in pregnancy on the fetus are well known. In the first years of science the focus was primarily on restricted fetal growth while in more recent years over 10.000 studies investigated the incomparably big sum of detrimental effects for the unborn's health. In this statement we want to present the recent scientific findings on this topic. The statement is aimed to show all doctors who treat pregnant women the present situation and evidence. In the beginning we give a short overview about the epidemiological situation in Europe. Then we present step by step the health effects with regards to pathophysiology and clinics. Furthermore the reader will learn about possibilities for smoking cessation in pregnancy. The problem of passive-smoking in pregnancy will be dealt with in a separate chapter. At present there is strong evidence that pregnant smoking has a detrimental effect on birth-weight, placenta-associated disease, stillbirth, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), childhood overweight, clefts, lung function, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and mental developmental disorders. These factors can be summarized by the term Fetal Tobacco Syndrome. There is supply for more studies for less investigated health effects. Pregnancy is a chance to stop smoking as most women show a high motivation in this period. Hence doctors of all disciplines should inform pregnant women about the detrimental effects of smoking on their unborn child and show them possibilities for smoking cessation.

[Allergen-specific Immunotherapy for children and adolescents - a review on available products in Austria]. / Spezifische Immuntherapie bei IgE-vermittelten allergischen Erkrankungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter - eine Ubersicht über in Osterreich zugelassene/registrierte Allergenpräparate : Konsensus Report 2009 der AG Pneumologie und Allergologie der Osterreichischen Gesellschaft für Kinder und Jugendheilkunde.

A pediatric consensus report on allergen-specific immunotherapy for children and adolescents is presented for Austria. Products on the market in Austria are presented and categorised according to studies performed on the target population of children and adolescents, their effectiveness and indication. In general, more clinical studies on children and adolescents are mandatory for most of the available allergen-specific immunotherapeutics. In addition, the use of allergen-specific immunotherapy in general should be promoted as the exclusive treatment with long-lasting effects in type I allergies in particular in children.

[Long-acting beta-2 agonists in pediatric asthma therapy--friend or foe]. / Langwirksame Beta-2-Sympathomimetika in der pädiatrischen Asthmatherapie--Freund oder Feind?

Recent publications suggest that long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs) increase the risk for death in asthma. The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a relevant alert in 2005. In the currently valid Austrian consensus guidelines for drug therapy of bronchial asthma in children and adolescents, LABAs are only recommended as add-on therapy in those patients whose asthma is not sufficiently controlled by inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) alone. LABAs have no established role in earlier steps of the therapeutic algorithm; consequently, the prescription of ICS-LABA combinations for initial treatment of paediatric asthma is not supported by these consensus treatment guidelines.