Children

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Angela Tosca

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Guest Editor

Allergy Center, Department of Pediatrics, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
Interests: pediatrics; allergy; asthma; immunology; infections
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Cristiana Indolfi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Interests: pediatrics; allergy; asthma; immunology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood and adolescence; its prevalence is steadily increasing, affecting approximately 12% of children and 14% of adolescents. It is well established that asthma involves chronic airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to various stimuli. Despite the wide dissemination of guidelines on the subject, asthma is not controlled in 50% of cases, as documented by some recent studies conducted worldwide. The priority objectives of healthcare should be early diagnoses and the maintenance of control, aiming to prevent flare-ups, sometimes serious and potentially fatal, especially in adolescents. Uncontrolled asthma, the main risk factor for severe asthma, leads to frequent recourse to hospital care and significant deteriorations in patients’ quality of life. Among children, the most common asthma phenotype is allergic asthma. Despite considerable progress in understanding the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms, several aspects concerning environmental and genetic risk factors, diagnosis, phenotype and endotype identification, and personalized drug treatments based on novel molecular therapeutic targets are yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, we welcome a collection of original and/or review articles focusing on paediatric allergic asthma, natural history, comorbidities, diagnosis, possible early interventions, prevention, environmental impact, lifestyle, precision medicine, new therapeutic strategies, and innovative approaches in asthma control and management.

Dr. Maria Angela Tosca
Dr. Cristiana Indolfi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

paediatric asthma
childhood asthma
allergic diseases in paediatrics
comorbidities
risk factors
environmental measures
asthma prevention
asthma control and treatment

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 807 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Closer Look at Parental Anxiety in Asthma Outpacing Children’s Concerns: Fear of Physical Activity over the Fear of Drug Side Effects

by Marijana Rogulj, Katarina Vukojević and Linda Lušić Kalcina

Children 2024, 11(3), 289; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children11030289 - 29 Feb 2024

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Abstract

Background: The recognition of comorbidities is relevant for asthma management, especially if these conditions/diseases are treatable traits such as anxiety. This study aimed to explore the associations between asthma severity and child and parent asthma-related anxiety and to recognize the most common specific fears. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 150 parents and their children diagnosed with asthma, and was conducted at the Pediatric Clinic of the University Hospital Center Split in Croatia. All children, from ages 3 to 17 years, underwent a thorough clinical examination. A total of 150 parents and 108 children filled out an asthma-related anxiety questionnaire in paper form. Results: Parents of children with moderate and severe asthma had higher asthma-related anxiety due to restrictions related to asthma symptoms (p = 0.032), and children diagnosed with moderate and severe asthma had greater anxiety due to restrictions related to asthma symptoms than children diagnosed with mild asthma (p = 0.004). Children’s anxiety was the highest when they experienced an asthmatic attack during physical activity (PA), and they fear that they will not be successful in sports or dancing due to asthma. Parents commonly reported the fear of an asthma attack without warning signs (p < 0.001), fear of drug side effects (p < 0.001), fear of absence from school (p = 0.006), and fear of an asthma attack during PA (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The current study reports findings of increased parental levels of anxiety when compared to their children, related to fear of an asthma attack occurring without warning signs, fear of side effects and fear of absence from school, as well as the fear of an asthma attack occurring during sports activities. When assessing individual items on anxiety associated with asthma, children most commonly reported concern related to physical activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Paediatric Allergic Asthma: Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Control and Treatment)

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Graphical abstract

Review

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15 pages, 606 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Prevention of House Dust Mite Allergies in Pediatric Asthma

by Angela Klain, Antonio Andrea Senatore, Amelia Licari, Francesca Galletta, Irene Bettini, Leonardo Tomei, Sara Manti, Francesca Mori, Michele Miraglia del Giudice and Cristiana Indolfi

Children 2024, 11(4), 469; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children11040469 - 15 Apr 2024

Viewed by 724

Abstract

This review provides a concise overview of preventive measures against dust mite allergies in pediatric populations, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and evolving approach. Dust mites, ubiquitous microscopic arachnids, pose a significant threat to children’s health, triggering allergies and asthma. Traditional preventive strategies such as regular cleaning, mattress covers, and humidity control are essential but warrant refinement. Empowering children through personalized hygiene education and exploring innovative bedding solutions showcase a forward-thinking paradigm. Collaboration with healthcare professionals and embracing technology-driven solutions ensures a holistic and adaptable approach to safeguarding pediatric health against dust mite-related ailments. This abstract underscores the importance of continually reassessing and innovating preventive measures to create resilient and health-conscious living environments for children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Paediatric Allergic Asthma: Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Control and Treatment)

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