No abstract

Introduction. During the first wave of the pandemic COVID-19, there was limited and poor quality information on the contribution of children to the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. By early August 2020, several confirmed cases of transmission from children had been published, with no clear evidence that the frequency of transmission from children is higher than that of adults. Since the beginning of the pandemic, children have accounted for 18.4 % of the total number of registered cases, and at the beginning of January 2022, 25.5 % of the total number of COVID-19 cases. Most of the new cases of the disease are Omicron strains. Even with the predicted generally less severe illness resulting from Omicron infection in children, doctors fear that more children may be hospitalized in the coming weeks, given the ever-increasing number of cases of infection with the virus. Data on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among children compared with adults is needed to inform COVID-19 risks and prevention strategies, including COVID-19 childhood vaccination policy.   Aim. To display literature data containing a review of studies on the transmission of coronavirus infection in children; to analyze the features of the vertical transmission route.   Materials and methods. An analysis was made of publications containing data from studies of cases and features of the transmission of COVID-19 disease in children, including from mother to child.   Results. Currently, foreign sources note several options for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in children. SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy may affect pregnancy outcome, delivery, and the birth of a potentially infected baby.   Conclusion. Data on the risk of infection and possible routes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in children, including vertical transmission, are needed to improve prevention methods, including immunization of pregnant women and children.

No abstract

The aim of the research is to improve the diagnosis of disturbances of cell energy in children with chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases (CNPD) in the remission stage by the methods of detection of cytochemical changes of the energy status and recording the percentage of immune-competent cells of blood with the low membrane potential of mitochondria (MPM). 77 children were examined, including 66 (83%) with lung malformations, and 11 children (17%) with chronic nonspecific lung diseases as an outcome of acute/chronic lung diseases. The presence of energy deficient states was assessed by the level of activity of oxidative-reduction enzymes of succinate dehydrogenase, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, lactic dehydrogenase in lymphocytes of the peripheral blood and percent ratio of lymphocytes with low MPM. It was found out that in 53.2% of the examined children even in the remission stage there were identified the signs of mitochondrial insufficiency when the parameters of metabolic activity of enzymes in lymphocytes were significantly lower than the norm. The cluster analysis of the obtained data allowed identifying the parameters typical for energy deficient states of the organism of the child that demand the correction by energotropic medications.

Introduction. The global spread of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection worldwide determines the need to study the clinical features, complications, extrapulmonary manifestations and long-term consequences of the infection in children. While many studies have been described in adult patients, there are limited data analyzing the clinical course of the disease in pediatric patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Aim. Review of the literature containing currently reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children to present the state of the art, understand the direction of research and unresolved issues. Materials and methods. An analysis of publications containing data from studies of SARS-CoV-2 cases in children was carried out. Results. Researchers from different countries agree that children are less susceptible to COVID19. This can create a dangerous situation, which can lead to a weakening of attention to children. Although their clinical manifestations are mainly mild to moderate symptoms, nevertheless, severe cases of the disease occur in children, which can lead to death. Conclusion. The complexity and variability of COVID-19 manifestations support the hypothesis that further research is needed on the long-term and chronic symptoms of COVID-19 in children. Failure to understand the underlying biological mechanisms behind these persistent symptoms increases missed opportunities to identify patients at risk of chronicity in order to prevent such conditions and seek rehabilitation approaches for children with COVID-19.