The aim of the study was to study the clinical and epidemiological features of the new COVID-19 coronavirus infection in children hospitalized in the infectious department. Material and methods. 249 case histories of patients from 0 to 18 years of age who are on inpatient treatment at «Clinical Hospital N1» in Smolensk for the period from April 2020 to July 2022 were studied by the continuous sampling method. Verification of a new coronavirus infection was carried out by examining smears from the nasopharynx and oropharynx for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 by real-time PCR. Results. The prevalence of patients from 1 to 3 (19.3%, 49.1%) and from 6—15 (15.8%, 50.5%) years was revealed both in 2020 and in 2021 and the first half of 2022. No significant differences in gender were found. The largest number of cases in 2020 was registered in April (16%) and November (14%), in 2021 — in December (18%) and November (16%). The prevailing severity in both 2020 and 2021, 2022 was the average severity (63% , 72%, 93%, respectively). The main syndromes of COVID-19 have been identified: intoxication syndrome, respiratory catarrhal syndrome, bronchopulmonary, intestinal. Bilateral pneumonia was most often detected (47% in 2020 , 44% in 2021, 62% in 2022), right-sided pneumonia (33% in 2020, 30% in 2021, 31% in 2022 ), and left-sided pneumonia (20%, 26% and 7%, respectively). The main comorbid pathologies are noted, and cases of somatic diseases first registered against the background of COVID-19 are described. 

A new coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is characterized by a systemic hyperinflammatory response with a pronounced increase in the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the Samara Regional Children's Infectious Diseases Hospital from 2021 to 2022. 40 patients with moderate (n = 20, group I) and severe forms (n = 20, group II) COVID-19 were studied, the comparison group consisted of patients with viral pneumonia of another etiology (n = 35, group III). Results. The infectious agent SARS-CoV-2 induces high levels of cytokines IL-6 (p < 0.005), IL-8 (p < 0.05) and a slight increase in TNF-α (p < 0.05). IL-8 was significantly associated with disease duration (p < 0.01). We assume that the value of this interleukin will increase in the post-COVID period. Conclusions. Changes in IL-6 and IL-8 levels in patients with COVID-19, along with clinical features, are important biomarkers for predicting the severity and duration of the disease.

In addition to the problem of high morbidity in the child population, there is a high risk of developing post-infectious functional gastrointestinal disorders (PFGID). The aim of the study was to establish the frequency and structure of functional gastrointestinal disorders in campylobacteriosis convalescents. Patients and methods. The study included 200 children who were treated in a specialized department of the DNNCIB FMBA of Russia in the period 2018—2021. associated with campylobacteriosis. Clinical observation of patients was carried out in a hospital, followed by follow-up observation for 12 months. Results. 180 (90%) patients passed the full observation period. At the time of the start of the follow-up observation only 26 (13%) children had complaints about health conditions: abdominal pain when eating (n = 15; 7.5%), flatulence (n = 19; 9 .5%), mushy stools, loss of appetite (n = 5; 2.5%), constipation (n = 10; 5.0%). Most often, the appearance of complaints from the digestive organs appeared in the period from 90 to 180 days. Among the symptoms detected in children after campylobacteriosis, the most common were the appearance of periodic pain, abdominal discomfort (n = 64, 32%) and constipation (n = 53; 26.5%). The older group was diagnosed with: irritable bowel syndrome (n = 19; 51.4%), functional dyspepsia (n = 14; 37.8%) and functional constipation (n = 4; 10.8%). In the younger age group, the following were diagnosed: functional constipation (n = 18; 60.0%) and functional diarrhea (n = 12; 40.0%). Conclusions. The dynamic dispensary observation of campylobacteriosis convalescents made it possible to diagnose PFGIR in 67 (33.5%) children. On the basis of the study, a mathematical and statistical model for predicting PFGIR was developed, which allows, based on the assessment of clinical and anamnestic signs, to identify children at risk. The predictors of PFGIR in children who have had campylobacteriosis included in the prognosis model include: admission to the hospital at a late stage of the disease with severe severity of campylobacteriosis on the Clark scale, the appointment of several courses of antibacterial drugs, forced transfer to artificial feeding, age, the presence of hemocolitis, the severity of dehydration.

Tropical countries have become increasingly popular destinations for Russian tourists in recent years, so this study is relevant for understanding the peculiarities of Russian travel. The purpose of the research is to analyze the awareness of Russian tourists traveling to tropical countries about the prevention of infectious diseases during travel. Materials and methods. A two-center cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was conducted from 2018 to 2021 on the basis of the Center for Medical Prevention and the Infectious Clinical Hospital No. 1). The analysis of 102 questionnaires of Russian travelers who traveled to tropical countries was carried out, the level of their awareness of the prevention of infectious diseases during travel, and adherence to vaccination were determined. Results. 102 adult travelers came to a doctor for vaccination, some of them planned to take children to a trip (24 children in total) from 2 to 18 years old. Most often, people aged 19—44 planned to go to tropical countries; there were no gender differences among travelers. Among the regions of departure of the respondents, the most common were East Africa, South America, West Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The most visited country was Tanzania. In the first place in terms of the purpose of travel was tourism, followed by business trips, visiting friends and relatives, education, and other purposes. In groups of travelers with and without children, there were no differences in the reasons for the trip, the organization of the trip, the duration of the trip, and accommodation during the trip. The main reasons for traveling were tourism, work, and visiting friends and relatives. The median duration of the trip was 15 days. Most often, travelers stayed at the hotel. Most travelers without children and all travelers with children planned to visit nature parks. Travelers' vaccination status and awareness of infectious diseases endemic in the country of departure were insufficient. Conclusion. The age and gender structure of travelers, the duration of trips, the main regions of departure, the place of residence during the trip, the purpose of the trip, the awareness of travelers about diseases in the region and ways to prevent them, about routine vaccination, and the commitment of travelers to vaccination and disease prevention were determined.

The aim is to study the antibiotic and phage resistance of K. pneumoniae strains isolated from children with acute intestinal infections. Materials and methods. 490 K. pneumoniae strains isolated by the bacteriological method from feces from patients with intestinal infections of various etiologies aged from 1 month to 18 years in the period 2019—2021 were studied. The diagnosis of intestinal infection caused by K. pneumoniae was established taking into account the detection of the pathogen at a concentration of at least 5 lg CFU/g (n = 283; 57.8%). Children with Klebsiella seeding, made up three age groups: from 1 to 12 months of life (n = 245; 50%); from 1 to 3 years (n = 131; 26.7%); from 3 to 18 years (n = 114; 23.3%). Results. A higher frequency of K. pneumoniae seeding in high concentrations from fecal samples of children with intestinal infections aged from 1 to 12 months was established (?2 = 14.24; p < 0.001). Analysis of the frequency of K. pneumoniae resistance to antimicrobials revealed its increase to ampicillin/sulbactam from 4.2 ± 1.6% to 9.7 ± 1.9% and to gentamicin from 3.0 ± 1.3% to 7.6 ± 1.7% (p < 0.05) with an increase in the concentration of the pathogen from 3—4 to 5—6 lg CFU/ml. In K. pneumoniae strains isolated in low concentrations, resistance to polyvalent anti-klebsiella bacteriophage was significantly higher than to monovalent bacteriophage. Conclusion. Children of the first year of life belong to the risk group for the development of klebsiella intestinal infection. An increase in the frequency of K. pneumoniae resistance to ampicillin/sulbactam and gentamicin correlates with an increase in the concentration of the pathogen in fecal samples.

Nowadays acute gastroenteritis retains the leading infectious disorder in children, has viral etiology and osmosecretory type of diarrhea in the most cases. Probiotics are considered highly effective medicines as part of the complex gastroenteritis therapy in children. The choice of the probiotics is limited by strains with proven efficacy and complicated by a large range of commercially available probiotics. The aim of the comparative post-registration prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety the probiotic drug Adiarin Probio for treatment of osmosecretory diarrhea inpatient children. The study included 60 hospitalized children aged 6 months to 7 years. Results: the efficacy and safety as well as high adherence to the Adiarin Probio in children with osmosecretory diarrhea were confirmed.

The aim of this study was to study the bacterial colonization of the umbilical residue in newborns when staying together with mothers and in newborns treated separately from mothers. Materials and methods: a study was conducted of 180 newborns born in the Perinatal Center in the period from October 2014 to March 2019, and divided into 3 groups: 82 newborns born during vaginal birth (VR) and were in cohabitation with mothers; 60 newborns born by caesarean section (CS) and shared with their mothers; 38 newborns admitted to the NICU and were separated from their mothers. Care for the umbilical cord in all newborns consisted in the natural drying of the umbilical cord. The method of delivery, pregnancy parity, sex of the child, birth weight and gestational age were taken into account. The data was analyzed by SPSS (version 20.0). The normality of the distribution of the data was determined using the criterion χ-square Kolmogorova-Smirnova. Results. Analysis of the data showed that in the study groups there were no significant differences in bacterial contamination in children of different sexes and primiparous mothers, but there were differences depending on the timing of pregnancy and birth weight.

Viral pathogens are a common cause of acute intestinal infections, especially in young children. The purpose of the work is to assess the role of acute intestinal infection of viral etiology in children in Baku, depending on age. Materials and methods. 117 patients under the age of 3 years who were admitted to the Children's City Clinical Hospitals No. 1 and No. 7 of Baku with a diagnosis of «Acute intestinal infection» in 2019 were under observation. Etiological diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis of various etiologies (rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovirus) was carried out using enzyme immunoassay and immunochromatography. Results. Of the 117 samples examined, 58.9% of cases detected viral pathogens, namely group A rotavirus (RV) — 27.4 ± 4.1%, adenovirus 40/41 serotypes (AdV) — 18.8 ± 3.6%, and human astrovirus (HAstV) — 12.8 ± 3.1%. With rotavirus infection, the frequency of detection of pathogens increased from 26.7 ± 11.4% in children of the first year of life to 33.8 ± 5.4% in children in the age group of 1—3 years. The largest number of mono-adenoviral intestinal infections (40/41 serotypes) was detected in children aged 7—12 months - 33.3 ± 12.2%. It was found that human astroviruses were also detected most often in children aged 7— 12 months — 20.0 ± 10.3%. It was found that among mixed viral intestinal infections in young children, the association RV + AstV was more common (6.8 ± 2.3%). Among mixed cultures, the association frequency of RV + C. albicans prevailed and amounted to 7.7 ± 2.5% with predominant detection in the age group of 7— 12 months. — 20.0 ± 10.3%.

The need to vaccinate children under the age of 12 against COVID-19 remains an object of discussion today. The relatively low risk associated with infection in children and the ambiguous conclusions when comparing the effects of vaccination and the transferred disease are grounds to believe that the ratio of risk and benefit of vaccination in this age group is more complex. One of the key arguments in favor of vaccinating healthy children is to protect them from the long-term effects of COVID-19. In addition, socially significant factors such as a decrease in the spread of infection, the cost of vaccine supplies or damage associated with the organization of quarantine measures (including the closure of schools and the transfer of the educational process to a remote format) should be taken into account. The dynamics of the situation requires a constant reassessment of the risk and benefits of specific prevention in children. The purpose of this literature review is to systematize objective data concerning the foreign experience of vaccination of children against COVID-19; arguments for and against vaccination, which complicate the decision-making on the issue under study at one level or another.

The urgency of the problem of human echinococcosis is due to the widespread prevalence of this disease, polymorphism and the severity of clinical manifestations. The aim and result of the work is to summarize the data available in the literature on the etiology, epidemiology, clinic, diagnosis, treatment, prevention of human cystic echinococcosis. Conclusion. The causative agents of human cystic echinococcosis are E. granulosus s.s., E. canadensis, E. ortleppi. The liver and lungs are most often affected, less often other organs of the abdominal cavity, bones, brain, spinal cord, eyes, etc. Diagnostics is carried out on the basis of a complex of clinical, instrumental, serological, molecular genetic studies. Treatment includes surgical removal of cysts, percutaneous interventions, and drug therapy.

Babesiosis is a natural focal infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Babesia, transmitted transmissibly and characterized by fever, intoxication, progressive hemolytic anemia, and often severe course in immunocompromised patients. The clinical picture of babesiosis is nonspecific. The disease should be suspected in patients with unexplained fever who have been in endemic areas for 2 months or have received a blood transfusion within 6 months. Diagnosis of babesiosis is difficult; depends on the qualifications of the doctor and the number of parasites in the blood. The aim of the work is to summarize the available information about the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinic, diagnosis, etiotropic therapy and prevention of babesiosis in humans. A review of domestic and foreign literature over the past 30 years, including Internet resources, has been carried out.

Chediak-Higashi syndrome is a rare immunodeficiency condition with generalized cellular dysfunction, with an autosomal recessive type of inheritance. Mostly young children suffer, death caused by infections or malignant neoplasms often occurs before they reach the age of 10 years. We describe a case of infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus in a 3-year—old boy against the background of a rare hereditary Chediak-Higashi syndrome with the development of hemophagocytic syndrome.

The article presents a case of imported tropical malaria in a 15-year-old girl who returned from the United Republic of Tanzania 5 days before the onset of the disease. The disease began with an increase in body temperature to 38—40°С, catarrhal phenomena. From the 3rd day of illness, abdominal pains, vomiting, loose stools joined. Despite an earlier request for medical help (the 2nd day of illness) and a timely epidemiological history, the patient was diagnosed with tropical malaria on the 6th day of illness, when complications of the disease developed. Late initiation of adequate therapy led to death from multiple organ failure on the 7th day of illness.