Additives are defined as substances added to food with the aim of preserving and improving safety, freshness, taste, texture, or appearance. While indirect additives can be found in traces in food and come from materials used for packaging, storage, and technological processing of food, direct additives are added to food with a special purpose (canning). The use of additives is justified if it is in accordance with legal regulations and does not pose a health or danger to consumers in the prescribed concentration. However, due to the specificity of the child’s metabolic system, there is a greater risk that the negative effects of the additive will manifest. Considering the importance of the potential negative impact of additives on children’s health and the increased interest in the control and monitoring of additives in food for children, we have reviewed the latest available literature available through PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Expert data were taken from publicly available documents published from January 2010 to April 2022 by internationally recognized professional organizations. It was found that the most frequently present additives in the food consumed by children are bisphenols, phthalates, perfluoroalkyl chemicals, perchlorates, pesticides, nitrates and nitrites, artificial food colors, monosodium glutamate, and aspartame. Increasing literacy about the presence and potential risk through continuous education of parents and young people as well as active monitoring of newly registered additives and harmonization of existing legal regulations by competent authorities can significantly prevent the unwanted effects of additives on children’s health.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes globally, which has also affected patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This study aimed to determine the incidence of T1DM and the characteristics of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during the pandemic comparing it to pre-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: Data from patients <19 years with newly diagnosed T1DM between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2021 from four regional centers in Vojvodina were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Results: In 2021, the highest incidence of T1DM in the last five years was recorded, 17.3/100,000. During the pandemic period (2020–2021), there were 99 new-onset T1DM, of which 42.4% presented in DKA, which is significantly higher than in the pre-pandemic period (34.1%). During the pandemic, symptom duration of T1DM lasted significantly longer than before the COVID-19 period. At the age of 10–14 years, the highest incidence of T1DM and COVID-19, the highest frequency rate of DKA, and severe DKA were observed. Conclusions: The pandemic is associated with a high incidence rate of T1DM, longer duration of symptoms of T1DM, a high frequency of DKA, and a severe DKA at diagnosis. Patients aged 10–14 years are a risk group for the occurrence of T1DM with severe clinical presentation. Additional studies are needed with a longer study period and in a wider geographical area, with data on exposure to COVID-19 infection, the permanence of new-onset T1DM, and the psychosocial impact of the pandemic.

Background/Objectives: To investigate if the severity and presentation of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) vary between different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. Methods: This retrospective study included 59 patients aged 0–18 years, diagnosed with COVID-19 and MIS-C, treated and monitored over a one-year period after discharge from hospital. The patients were grouped according to the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant. The predominant variant of SARS-CoV-2 was assumed by the date of hospitalization. The following patient data were collected: demographic data (age, sex), information on comorbidities, body mass index, clinical data (fever and duration of febrile periods, symptoms of Kawasaki-like phenotypes, and presence of respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological and other symptoms), and laboratory and imaging findings. Results: In total, 24 (41%), 19 (32%), and 15 (25%) patients were diagnosed with MIS-C during the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron periods, respectively (63.8% were males; 36.2% were females). Comorbidities were present in 49% of patients. Respiratory symptoms were the most common during the Delta period (73%, p = 0.028). There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of other symptoms, laboratory findings, treatment, complications, and long-term outcomes between groups. Conclusions: No significant correlation was found between hospitalization date (used to estimate COVID-19 variant) and presentation/severity of MIS-C.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a rare but potentially severe complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with increasingly reported renal manifestations. Materials and Methods: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare clinical and laboratory characteristics across age categories, with special emphasis on renal function. We analysed data from 64 patients with MIS-C treated between July 2020 and December 2023. Results: In children under 3 years of age, there was a higher prevalence of leucocytosis, elevated platelet counts, and anaemia, along with a lower frequency of complications. The 3–6-year age group was characterized by the presence of rash, hypoalbuminemia, and elevated transaminases. The 7–12-year age group showed the highest rate of organ dysfunction. In adolescents (13–18 years), neurological symptoms, the highest BMI values, the greatest prevalence of comorbidities, leukopenia, lymphopenia, and elevated GGT levels were observed. The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) was 6.3% (n = 4/64). Following treatment, the majority of patients achieved full recovery (n = 61/64; 95.2%). Conclusions: There are pronounced age-related differences in the clinical presentation of MIS-C, with distinct immune and clinical patterns suggesting developmental influences on disease expression and outcomes. Older children showed a higher prevalence of comorbidities and organ dysfunction compared to younger patients. Notably, this study found a markedly lower incidence of acute kidney injury (6.3%) compared to previously reported rates (20–30%), indicating potential regional or age-related protective factors. These findings highlight the importance of age-specific evaluation in MIS-C and underscore the need for further multicentre research to refine therapeutic protocols.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify clinical features and laboratory findings that correlate with and predict pathological echocardiographic findings in children diagnosed with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study included all patients aged 0–18 diagnosed with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome and hospitalized at our clinic from July 2020 to December 2022. The clinical and laboratory data of 61 patients were studied and compared between two subgroups (normal/abnormal echocardiography). Results: Elevated values of high-sensitivity troponin I were observed in 65.57% patients with MIS-C. The mean high-sensitivity troponin I value in the whole sample was 400.89 ± 1989.31 pg/mL. In patients with pathological echocardiographic findings, the mean value was 1240.24 ± 3609 pg/mL, while in patients with normal echocardiographic findings, it was 52.87 ± 71.86 pg/mL. Even though mean value was higher in the group of patients with abnormal echocardiography, no statistically significant difference was observed between high-sensitivity troponin I values in patients with and without pathological echocardiographic findings. Troponin levels were not in good correlation with pathological echocardiographic findings (point-biserial correlation; rpb = 0.25, p = 0.054) and were not good predictors of pathological echocardiographic findings (logistic regression; Chi² = 3.77, p = 0.052). Logistic regression showed significant positive correlation of blood urea nitrogen levels and the degree of fever with abnormal echocardiographic findings (Chi² = 10.04, p 0.002/Chi² = 6.10, p = 0.013, respectively). Conclusions: Only blood urea nitrogen levels and high fever showed statistically significant correlation and predictive value for abnormal echocardiographic findings in children with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome. High sensitive troponin I had no significant power to discriminate between normal and abnormal echocardiographic findings.