Objectives. We examined association between incidence rate of low birth weight in liveborn infants and maternal sociodemographic status in Tuzla Canton during 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods. The present study covers a 22-year period (1988–2009), including the war period (1992–1995), and we retrospectively collected data on a total of 108 316 liveborn infants and their mothers from three different socioeconomic periods: before (1988–1991), during (1992–1995), and after the war (1996–2009). Association between incidence rate of low birth weight in liveborn infants and maternal sociodemographic status were determined for each study period. Results. There were 23 194 live births in the prewar, 18 302 during the war, and 66 820 in the postwar period. Among the liveborn infants born during the war, 1373 (7.5%) had birth weight of <2500 g, which is significantly more in comparison with 851 (3.6%) liveborn infants in this birth weight group born before and 1864 (2.8%) after the war. We found the number of examinations during pregnancy was 1.8 per pregnant woman in the war period, which was low in comparison with the number of examinations before (4.6 per pregnant woman) and after (7.1 per pregnant woman) the war (P<.001 for both). Prewar perinatal mortality LBW infants of 6.2 per 1000 live births increased to 10.8 per 1000 live births during the war (P<.001), but after the war, perinatal mortality LBW infants (5.2‰) and early neonatal mortality (2.4‰) decreased. Conclusions. We found statistically significant association between low-birth-weight and maternal sociodemographic status in Tuzla Canton during 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

SUMMARY -Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) usually develop symptoms when they reach the age of 6-7 years, but the risk of developing respiratory allergies, asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) remains high. In most children with AD, the development of asthma and AR is associated with sensitization to food allergens and/or aeroallergens, while only a small percentage missed atopic diathesis. In about 35% of children with AD, food allergy is the provoking cause, and 60% of infants who had AD in the fi rst 3 months of life were sensitized against aeroallergens by the age of 5. Th e aim of the study was to follow development of asthma and AR and to assess the most signifi cant risk factors for developing respiratory allergy. A total of 114 children with AD were followed up for fi ve years. At annual visits, the severity of disease, total immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody values, skin prick tests, specifi c IgE antibodies to food allergens and aeroallergens, and absolute eosinophil count were assessed. Information on the family history of atopy and AD, feeding patterns during infancy, data on sensitivity to food allergens and/or aeroallergens, and on the occurrence of bronchial obstruction and nose symptoms were obtained. Asthma developed in 36 children, median age 7.7 years; 33 children had symptoms of AR, and 13 children with AD had both diseases associated; 38 children had sensitivity to food, of which 24 developed asthma and 13 AR; asthma developed in 18/23 children with sensitivity to aeroallergens, and almost an equal number of children developed AR. Th e increased absolute eosinophil count and specifi c IgE to aeroallergens and food allergens were the best asthma predictors, while AR predictors were family history and early onset of AD. In conclusion, children with AD are at a signifi cant risk of developing respiratory allergies, and those with the increased absolute eosinophil count, positive specifi c IgE to aeroallergens and food allergens, heredity of AD, and early onset of AD are at the highest risk. Identifi cation of risk factors will enable us to improve the treatments of AD in order to reduce the severity of disease and prevent manifestation of respiratory allergy.

Introduction:Uveitis as extra-articular manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is present in 20% of children with the persistent form, in 30% with the extended oligoarticular form, while it is present in psoriatic and polyarticular rheumatoid factor (RF) negative arthritis in 10% and 14%, respectively.Aim:The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of uveitis and its complications in children with JIA.Material and Methods:A retrospective study was conducted with an analysis of the medical records of children with JIA who were treated for the last 5 years. The analysis included the following: the child’s age and sex, age at onset of arthritis, of uveitis, complications, RF values and antinuclear antibodies (ANA).Results:The study included 97 children with JIA: in 14 (14.4%) uveitis was observed; the most common form of JIA was the oligoarticular extended form (6/14), oligoarticular persistent form was observed in 5 children, while 3 children with uveitis had polyarticular RF negative JIA. The age of arthritis onset was lower in children with uveitis (4.7 vs 8.2 years); ANA positivity was more common in children with JIA and uveitis (64% vs 41%). Uveitis was the first manifestation of the disease for 2 children; 28.6% of children had clinically asymptomatic uveitis, while 42.4% of children developed uveitis within 4 years from the JIA onset. 8/14 children developed uveitis complications: 3 cases of synechia, 2 band keratopathy, 2 cataracta, 1 glaucoma.Conclusion:Uveitis as significantly present manifestation of JIA requires to timely recognize, treat, monitor children in order to prevent complications.

Objective - To assess 25(OH)D status in children with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) associated with SARSCoV-2 infection, and the association between serum levels of 25(OH)D and inflammatory marker values.Patients and methods - This retrospective study was conducted at the Clinic for Children’s Diseases, University Clinical Center, Tuzla in the period from November 2020 to November 2021.Results - The study included 23 children with MIS-C with a median age of 6.9 years, and 22 children with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, with a median age of 1.1 years. Both groups of children had low serum levels of 25(OH)D in the range of deficiency; median levels of 25(OH)D in MIS-C children were lower (median 44.60 nmol/L) than in children with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection - median 52.45 nmol/L. There was no statistically significant difference in 25(OH) D levels between the two groups of children included in the study (P=0.33). The same number of children in both groups had adequate serum levels of 25(OH)D. The children in both groups had elevated markers of inflammation, but we did not find a significant correlation between the values of 25(OH)D and the inflammatory marker values.Conclusion - Deficiency of 25(OH) D could be one of the precipitating factors that lead to the development of both MIS-C - related SARS-CoV-2 and more severe forms of acute infection. 25(OH)D enriched food, as well as supplementation with 25(OH)D, should be considered a long-term strategy in all high-risk children and adolescents.

Introduction: Despite growing progress of perinatal medicine and perinatal care, between 9-19% of preterm infants are born each year. Improvement in survival of infants and the reduction in infant mortality rates is a key role of perinatal quality healthcare. The Aim: To evaluate the perinatal outcome of preterm infants in maternity wards of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for a period of one year. Material and methods: Of 22 897 live newborns, the research criteria matched 669 (2.9%) preterm infants with complete medical records in ten cantons of the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina. We analyzed data from maternity wards documentation and discharge letters from tertiary health care centers. Results: Most deliveries were in the Tuzla and Sarajevo Canton with 42.5% of preterm infants. The mean gestational age of preterm infants was 31.4 weeks, with SD ± 5.34, and the mean birth weight 1295 grams, SD ± 234.2. The mean Apgar score was 4.6 ± 2.1, and in the fifth minute 6.6 ± 1.9. Of 669 examinees, there were 345 (51.56%) males and 324 (48.44%) females (51.56 vs 48.44; c 2 = 1.19; P = 0.27). By analyzing the frequency of preterm infant birth rate according to weight categories, we found a significant difference in some levels of perinatal health institution, between the 1 st and 2 nd institutions levels (1.76% vs 3.01%; P < 0.0001), also between 2 nd and 3 rd institutions levels (3.01% vs 3.03%; P < 0.0002), and between 1st and 3rd institutions levels (1.76% vs 3.03%; P < 0.0001). A significant statistical difference in survival of tested newborns was found in institutions of 3rd level c 2 = 49.25; P < 0.0001 with a low risk for unfavorable outcome ŠOR = 0.436; 95%CI (0.346-0.550)¹. Conclusion: Perinatal outcome of preterm infants in the Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina significantly depends on the level of perinatal health care. Survival rate of infants born in the institutions of the 3rd level was statistically much higher than the survival rate of infants who were born in the 1 st and the 2 nd level institutions.