Sevil Bilir Goksugur

Although solid cohort studies confirmed a preventative role for the anti-oxidant vitamin D in allergic asthma, a limited number of studies focused on allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC). Here, we aimed to determine 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels in tear and serum in young allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients as compared to their apparently healthy matched controls. In total, 22 children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and 31 healthy control subjects underwent serum total IgE and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol measurements. Tear levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol were also determined in both groups. The mean serum total IgE level in the ARC group (143.6±132.8IU/ml) was significantly higher than that in the control group (54.8±44.1IU/ml; p=0.03). Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly higher in the ARC group (34.1±12.7ng/ml) than in the healthy controls (21.8±11.3ng/ml; p=0.001). To our knowledge, this is the first reported study to show an association between serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and ARC in a childhood group. Higher levels of serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis may indicate a possible aetiopathogenic mechanism in the development of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. This is also the first report to examine tear fluid vitamin D levels in paediatric ARC patients.

Pyrethroids are broad‐spectrum insecticides. Permethrin intoxication due to topical application has not been documented in humans. We report a 20‐month‐old infant who had used 5% permethrin lotion topically for scabies treatment. Approximately 60 mL (20 mL/day) was used and after the third application he developed agitation, nausea, vomiting, respiratory distress, tachycardia, and metabolic acidosis. His clinical symptoms and metabolic acidosis normalized within 20 hours. His follow‐up was unremarkable. Toxicity of permethrin is rare, and although permethrin is a widely and safely used topical agent in the treatment of scabies and lice, inappropriate use may rarely cause toxicity. Moreover, in cases of unexplained metabolic acidosis, topically applied medications should be carefully investigated.

Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common neurological emergency in childhood. They are divided into two groups accordingly clinical features, simple febrile seizure and complex febrile seizure. Until now laboratory tests have not been used as a parameter of classification of them. The objective of this study is to estimate the usefulness of the hematogical parameters especially neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in the differentiation of febrile seizure types. A retrospective review was conducted on patients from 6 months to 6 years old presenting with first febrile seizure admitted to a tertiary care hospital. Epidemiological and laboratory variables of the patients were collected. The mean NLR in the simple FS and complex FS groups was 2.18±1.9 and 3.8±4.2 respectively, and the difference was significant (p=0.024). The mean serum red blood cell distribution width in the simple FS and complex FS groups was 16.1±1.1 and 16.6±0.8 respectively, and the difference was significant (p=0.019). NLR and RDW values in complex FS patients were statistically higher than simple febrile patients. ROC analysis showed that if the chosen cut-off point for NLR is 1.98 the sensitivity and specificity are 66.7% and 60.3% respectively. These were statistically significant (p=0.040 AUC 0.623, CI 0.503-0.743). If the chosen cut-off point for RDW is 16.350, the sensitivity and specificity are 59.0% and 58.6%, respectively. These were statistically significant (p=0.037 AUC 0.626, CI 0.515-0.736) too. NLR and RDW were simple, effective and practical predictors for differentiation of FS types. They will have potential values in public health practice for management of FS patients.

Background: Attention‐deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one of the most common psychiatric disorders of childhood, has an early onset, affecting 2–18% of children worldwide. The etiopathogenesis of ADHD is obscure. In recent studies, a low level of vitamin D has been found in association with many disorders as well as in neuropsychiatric diseases. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate serum vitamin D level in pediatric ADHD patients.Methods: A total of 60 ADHD patients and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. The age of both groups was in the 7–18‐year‐old range. Serum 25‐OH‐vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase were investigated.Results: Serum 25‐OH‐vitamin D was found to be significantly lower in children and adolescents with ADHD compared to healthy controls, and no significant differences were found between the groups in terms of other variables. 25‐OH‐vitamin D level in the ADHD group and control group was, respectively, 20.9 ± 19.4 ng/mL and 34.9 ± 15.4 ng/mL (P = 0.001).Conclusion: There is an association between lower 25‐OH‐vitamin D concentration and ADHD in childhood and adolescence. To the authors' knowledge this is the first study to investigate the relationship between vitamin D and ADHD in children.