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Background. This study examines the prevalence and underlying factors of loneliness among Polish adolescents in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives. The aim of this study is to assess the frequency of loneliness experienced by Polish students depending on the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various aspects of life. Material and methods. Utilizing data from a representative sample of over 6,200 students aged 11 to 17, as part of the global Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey for the 2021/2022 school year, the study investigates how the pandemic has affected the lives of young people, particularly in fostering feelings of loneliness. Results. The findings indicate that almost one-third of Polish school students report feeling lonely “often” or “always”. Key factors contributing to this loneliness include gender, age, the level of support from family and peers, as well as the amount of time spent on social media. Notably, the study uncovers that girls are more likely to feel lonely – especially those in secondary school and living in larger cities. There is also a noticeable link between heavy social media usage and heightened loneliness. Conclusions. The pandemic’s toll on mental health, family dynamics, and academic life has emerged as a significant concern. This paper underscores the urgent need for dedicated programs and support mechanisms to counteract the adverse effects of the pandemic on the mental health and overall well-being of young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of overweight, defined as excessive body weight, among different population groups is one of the most serious public health problems that Poland has to face. The aim of this paper was to review the recent data regarding the nutritional status of subpopulations of children, adolescents and adults in Poland. Material and methods: The search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Sciences databases, as well as official websites of the Polish Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute and the World Health Organization. Scientific publications in English and Polish, published between January 2020 and September 2023, were used as sources of information. Results: The prevalence of overweight among children, adolescents and adults in Poland is relatively high. However, it should be noted that most studies were observational, the methods used for data collection varied (self-reported vs. measured), and BMI was a tool to measure body weight status. The prevalence of overweight among the paediatric population varies from 11% to 45%. Among adults, the prevalence of overweight exceeds 62% for men and 43% for women. The prevalence of higher-than-normal body mass increases with age. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of abnormal body weight among both paediatric and adult populations. Conclusions: Early prevention is essential in dealing with excessive body weight and the adverse health outcomes that may result therefrom. To address the weight gain problem across different populations, comprehensive and family-based obesity prevention programmes should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition caused by progressive cutaneous hypomelanosis. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine its epidemiology and clinical aspects. As considerable progress has been made in understanding of the pathogenesis of vitiligo and its classification as an autoimmune disease, the paper pays particular attention to coexisting autoimmune or atopic diseases. Material and methods: The study included 55 patients attending the Diagnostic and Treatment Center of Skin Diseases in Lodz. Data were collected during outpatient dermatological consultation. Results: The most common type of vitiligo was nonsegmental (85.5%) followed by segmental (12.7%) and unclassified (2.1%). The first skin lesions were mostly located on the hands (45.5%) and face (38.2%). Older patients with higher body mass index tended to demonstrate a higher body surface area. Of the patients, 63.6% demonstrated an autoimmune or atopic comorbidity, the most common of which were type 1 diabetes mellitus (18.2%), psoriasis (16.4%) or Hashimoto's thyroiditis (14.5%). Location on the face was associated with a significantly greater incidence of autoimmune or atopic co-morbidities. Conclusions: A facial location may serve as a predictive factor for other autoimmune or atopic diseases in vitiligo patients. Determining clinical factors in vitiligo patients which could be associated with a higher risk of autoimmune comorbidities may allow for their early diagnosis and suitable treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The pathomechanism of neurodevelopmental disorders includes disruption of sensory channels leading to cognitive-behavioural disorders. Feeding disorders (FED) are defined as unconscious or intentional periods of refusal and/or low food intake. Food intake is selective or accompanied by physiological/psychological inability in the process of food intake. The aim of this study was to assess feeding difficulties, nutritional status, and eating disorders in children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders. Material and methods: One hundred and forty-one patients of specialist neuropaediatric institutions with diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders were enrolled in the study. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were as follows: consent of the patients' parents to conduct the study, age of the child, and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders. The research tool was a self-administered survey questionnaire including the patients' metric data, type of disorder and its course, nutritional status using Cole's parameter, and feeding behaviour. Results: Eating disorders were present in 26.24%, while FED were present in 74.47% of children with neurodevelopmental disorders -- autism spectrum. The nutritional status of the paediatric population was "at risk of malnutrition" (68.09%). Conclusions: Nutritional status according to the considered guidelines represented normal weight and the risk of malnutrition. Feeding disorders together with eating disorders occurred with diagnoses of neurodevelopmental spectrum disorders. The neuropaediatric group was characterised by feeding and eating disorders (sensory feeding neophobia and pervasive craving disorder) but showed no association with the type of food texture accepted. The range of measured and accepted temperatures and the consumption of foods with specific visual-organoleptic characteristics targeted feeding disorders. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders will require feeding therapy with a sensory diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the relevance of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent isolation policy on foreign body aspiration (FBA) or ingestion (FBI) reports among children. Material and methods: A retrospective review of medical records between January 2018 and September 2021 was carried out to identify patients younger than 18 years who were admitted to the Paediatric Surgery and Urology Department, University Hospital in Wrocław, due to suspicion of a foreign body (FB) in their digestive or respiratory system. For each patient: age, sex, hospitalisation time, type of foreign body, its localisation, time and means for removal, and diagnostic approach were assessed. Results: The study group comprised 236 children. The patients were divided into 2 groups including children that were admitted before and after the declaration of the state of pandemics in Poland (20 March 2020), which gives periods of 26 and 20 months, respectively. Those related to general admission number (as a percentage of all admissions) equal an average of 1.92% (of 6300) and 2.03% (of 3802), respectively. This resulted in 122 children before and 114 after the beginning of the pandemic. The age ranges were 6--203 months (median 30) and 8--211 months (median 35), respectively. The most common types of foreign bodies were food, batteries, and coins. The new ones comprised magnetic pieces found in 12 children. Surgical intervention, which mostly included gastroscopy or rigid bronchoscopy, was undertaken in 186 cases -- for the groups, 70 (57.4%) and 69 (60.5%) FBs, respectively, were removed. The assessed success rate was 71.43% and 78.41%, respectively. Conclusions: The pandemic isolation policy seems to have had no major impact on FBI and FBA events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Excessive drinking habits increase health-related, social and financial costs. This study aims to assess the alcohol-related behaviour and frequency of alcohol consumption in the inhabitants of the Kępno district in Poland. Material and methods: Study subjects included 299 inhabitants of the Kępno district in Poland consisting of 177 women (59.2%) and 122 men (40.2%) with the age range of 18-73 years and 19-69 years, respectively. The study was carried out anonymously in 2019 using a questionnaire employed in the direct interview method. Results: A total of 78.6% of participants were found to be currently drinking alcohol, 10.7% were not drinking alcohol at present and 12.7% had never drunk alcohol. The majority of respondents initiated drinking alcohol between 13 and 18 years of age. People from rural areas started drinking alcohol significantly earlier; more than half first consumed alcohol before the age of 15. About half of the subjects drank no more than 4 units of alcohol during a typical day of alcohol consumption. A total of 41.3% of people aged 43-70 years consumed 7-9 units of alcohol during a typical day compared to only 23.9% of the youngest respondents. A total of 60% of participants consumed alcohol several times a year regardless of sex, age and place of residence. Rates of alcohol being consumed a few times per month were slightly higher in men than women (18.3% vs. 15.4%, respectively). Conclusions: Healthy lifestyle should be promoted, highlighting the harm caused by alcohol drinking at primary and secondary schools because of the concern over the early age of alcohol initiation in the Kępno district, in particular with attempts to target adolescents living in rural areas. Taking into account the trends in the study group, special attention should be paid to women and the population of the oldest people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the changing incidence of Lyme borreliosis (LB) in a children’s group in Wielkopolska, and the influences of gender and age as well as erythema migrans (EM) occurrence on the development of various forms of LB in children. Material and methods: Retrospective analysis covered the medical records of 206 children diagnosed with LB, hospitalised in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology in Poznań and consulted at its Clinic of Infectious Diseases from 1 January 2012 to 30 October 2021. For an epidemiological analysis, the study population was limited to patients from Wielkopolska. A total of 196 qualified subjects were divided into 2 time periods, the first covering the years 2012–2016, in which LB was confirmed in 52 children, and the second covering 2017–2021, in which the disease was diagnosed in 144 children. The relationship between the course of LB and the gender and age of the patients was analysed in both groups. Statistical analysis of the data was performed, and the results were compared with published data. Results: The epidemiological analysis showed a more than a twofold increase in the number of LB cases in the analysed time periods, mainly diagnosed as EM. The high incidence of LB neurological complications in children, including those with incorrectly diagnosed EM, remains constant. There was no relationship between the clinical forms of the disease and the child’s sex, but an increase in the number of EM diagnoses in younger children was confirmed. Conclusions: The study confirmed the increase in the number of LB diagnoses, analogous to the entire population of the region. The significant increase in the number of early stages of the disease and the frequent occurrence of neurological complications in children with undiagnosed and untreated EM indicate the need for ongoing education in the diagnosis of LB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Nutritional programming theory states that a deficiency or excess of nutrients can permanently alter a child's metabolism. The detrimental effects of such deviation can cause health problems even during adulthood. Although this concept has existed for over a dozen years, it is not always used in practice. This research investigated the awareness of Polish mothers in terms of nutritional programming and its correlation with children's nutrition. Material and methods: The study was conducted using a questionnaire that verified the mothers' nutritional programming knowledge, nutrition during pregnancy, and their children's nutritional intake. The questionnaire was available online on various parents' Facebook groups, forums, and websites concerning children's nutrition. There were 363 women, 20-43 years old, with children under the age of 3, participating in this study. The survey was conducted in Poland from 2019 to 2021. Results: Fourty four percent of mothers did not recognize the term 'nutritional programming'. The level of mothers' education was of primary importance, as those with a lower education overestimated their knowledge of nutritional programming. The majority of mothers were not knowledgeable about dietary recommendations for children. There was a correlation between mothers' knowledge, breastfeeding, and docosahexaenoic acid intake in children. Mothers with proper nutritional knowledge breastfed longer (p = 0.041) and more often (r = 0.128, p = 0.017, 95% CI: 0.023-0.230). The higher the mother's education level, the higher was the intake of DHA in children (r = 0.294, p = 0.006, 95% CI: 0.477-0.086). Conclusions: The obtained results demonstrate that the level of awareness among mothers in this study was insufficient. This resulted in inadequate nutritional dietary intake among children. Mothers, especially those with lower education, must be adequately instructed on children's nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Between 1990 and 2002 Poland experienced one of the steepest gains in health in Europe. However, in 2002, unexpectedly, the health improvement in Poland halted. An increase in alcohol-related diseases after 2002 was most likely caused by an increase in alcohol consumption that followed a 30% reduction in excise tax on spirits and other weakening of alcohol control policies. This study examines the development of the health situation in Poland between 2002 and 2019, and describes potential causes of the health crisis, based on life expectancy statistics and epidemiological indicators of alcohol-related health burden. Material and methods: We examined life expectancy and 100% alcohol-attributable death cases (AAC). Standardised death rates were calculated using population statistics from the World Bank and the Segi standard. Changes in trends were analysed using Joinpoint Regression. The present analysis comprises the Polish adult population aged 20+. Results: The increase in life expectancy starting in 1991 in Poland first slowed down after 2002 and then stopped in 2014 in men and in 2016 in women. During the years 2002-2019, there was a manyfold linear growth of alcohol-attributable mortality in both sexes and all adult age groups. AAC standardised mortality rates increased from 7.5 (13.9 in men, 1.7 in women) in 2002 to 17.8 (29.3 in men, 7.1 in women) per 100,000 in 2019. The National Statistical Office recorded an increase of AAC deaths from 3685 (3256 in men and 429 in women) in 2002 to 10,396 (8251 in men, and 2145 in women) in 2019. During the years 2002-2019, the cumulative number of AAC deaths was 130,000 in men and women combined. Conclusions: The halt in the improvement of health in Poland, probably caused by the increase in alcohol consumption, constitutes a serious public health challenge. Strong alcohol control action is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: Although the recognition of acute pancreatitis in children has been increasing over the last decades, knowledge this condition is limited. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the aetiology and clinical course of the first episode of acute pancreatitis in children. Material and methods: We retrospectively analysed medical records of patients hospitalized due to the first episode of acute pancreatitis in the Department of Paediatrics and Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, from January 2011 to December 2019. The analysis took into account the age and sex of patients, clinical symptoms, abnormalities in physical examination, past and family history data, and results of laboratory and imaging tests. The review of consecutive hospitalizations of patients from the study group was carried out to assess the number of recurrences of pancreatitis in the analysed period. Results: The study group consisted of 72 patients, including 37 boys and 35 girls. The age of patients ranged from 2 to 18 years, with a median of 12 years. The vast majority (62%) of acute pancreatitis cases were diagnosed in the latter 4 years of the study period. In 43% of patients, acute pancreatitis was of idiopathic origin, followed by infectious (22%), toxic (18%), and biliary (8%) aetiology. The most common initial symptoms included abdominal pain (93%), vomiting (66%), and nausea (28%). In the study period recurrence of acute pancreatitis occurred in one-third of the children. Conclusions: Paediatric acute pancreatitis is an increasing health care issue with various aetiologies. Acute pancreatitis should be considered in every child with acute abdominal pain, vomiting, or nausea. Further studies are needed to determine the risk factors of recurrent acute pancreatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The average waiting time for cataract treatment in Poland is 441 days - the longest for any surgical procedures in the country. Objectives. The aim of the study was to examine the availability of surgical cataract treatment among older Polish patients. Material and methods. Using data from 25,970 hospitalizations at the Ophthalmology Ward of the University Clinical Hospital in Wrocław, Poland in years 2012-2017, we analyzed the demographic structure of the patients, the duration of hospital stay, and the average cost; the level of statistical significance was taken to be p < 0.05. Results. Patients 65 years of age or older made up 78% of patients receiving surgical cataract treatment. This treatment required significantly shorter hospitalization time in 2017 than in 2012 (an average of 1.89 vs. 2.19 patient-days, respectively). The average hospital stay length among the older patients was significantly shorter than among younger patients (2.3 vs 3.2 patient-days, respectively) and the average hospitalization cost for patients aged 65 years or older was significantly lower (2105.63 PLN vs 2929.57 PLN , equivalent of 495.44 EUR vs 689.31 EUR , respectively). Conclusions. The duration of the average hospital stay in the ophthalmology ward was shorter, and the average hospitalization cost was lower, for patients aged 65 years or older than for younger patients because older patients mostly undergo modern standardized less-invasive cataract treatment. As more ophthalmological medical staff, infrastructure, and financial assets are available for cataract treatment and have not yet been assigned or spent, Polish hospitals should introduce newer medical technology, process adjustments, and organizational innovations to fully utilize their potential and improve the availability of cataract treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The results of the European Health Interview Surveys, performed in 2014, has indicated that every fourth child in Poland has long-term health problems or chronic diseases. Objectives. Diagnosis and comparison of the most common health problems occurring among children attending primary and middle school. Material and methods. The study has an epidemiological cross-sectional character, and it is concerned with health problems in the Lublin primary and middle school population. The source of data was secondary materials derived from the statistical reporting documentation “Collective analysis of students' health status”, covering the years 2010-2015 and conducted by a nurse of the teaching and learning environment under contract with the National Health Fund. Results. Health problems were diagnosed in 44.3% (n = 846) of primary school students and 50.6% (n = 804) of middle school students. Excessive body weight and endocrine disorders and eye diseases are significantly more common in the middle school students than in primary school children (p < 0.001). In contrast, younger children are more likely to be diagnosed with hearing and speech disorders (p < 0.001) and increased incidence of injuries (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The frequency of health disorders increases with the age of the students. The predominant health problem among both primary school and middle school students is defects and diseases of the motor organs. The most common chronic diseases diagnosed among school children are allergic diseases. Accidents and injuries are the most common health risks to the developmental age population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]