Objective: Epidemic diseases have caused significant mental reponses throughout the society and especially healthcare professionals, as well as those who have been infected. Healthcare professionals have a big role in the fight against the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19). When the literature is reviewed in terms of risky professions, as the cases increase, the psychological influence has increased significantly among the healthcare professionals dealing with the care of patients as an occupational group. The aim of this study is to research the effect of pandemic on anxiety, anger, sleep and emotion regulation in healthcare professionals. Method: The study included 261 doctors and 145 nurses. Data were collected by the Sociodemographic Data Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAEI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Results: State anxiety levels 50.5%, anger levels 34.8%, insomnia severity levels 35.4% and 36.1% of emotion regulation difficulty levels were detected of healthcare professions. It was determined that the state anxiety level increases the levels of trait anger and insomnia severity, the level of emotion regulation difficulty increases the levels of trait anger and the level of insomnia severity increases the level of trait anger of healthcare professions significantly. Conclusion: We consider that the study will be guiding in terms of the degree of mental response of the healthcare professionals and the psychological and social support to be given to this group after the pandemic.

Objective: There is increasing evidence for the effect of inflammation on the etiology of febrile seizure (FS) patients. We aimed to investigate the role of easily accessible inflammatory markers such as the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), neutrophil–lymphocyte–platelet ratio (NLPR), and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) in febrile seizure. Methods: A total of 300 children, including 100 with febrile convulsions (FS), 100 febrile controls (FCs), and 100 healthy controls (HCs), were included in this retrospective study. The FS group was compared with the FC and HC groups in terms of these inflammatory indexes. Results: Between the FS group and the FC group, the neutrophil count was significantly higher in the FS group (p = 0.001) and the lymphocyte count was significantly lower (p < 0.001). The NLR (p < 0.001), SII (p < 0.001), SIRI (p < 0.001), NLPR (p < 0.001), and PIV (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the FS group than in both the FC and healthy control groups. The optimal cut-off values for predicting FS in febrile conditions were 3.59> for NLR, >870.47 for SII, >1.96 for SIRI, 0.96> for NLPR, and >532.75 for PIV. Conclusions: The inflammatory indices are inexpensive, easily accessible hematological markers that can contribute to the diagnosis of FS.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the number of visits to a pediatric emergency department due to asthma attacks and air pollutants. Methods: In this ecological study, all pediatric patients who visited the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Istanbul with asthma between January 2016 and December 2023 were included. The effect of air pollution on the number of patient visits was analyzed using a negative binomial regression model. Results: Based on the negative binomial model, a one-unit increase in SO₂ leads to a 0.020-unit decrease in the logarithm of the number of patient visits (p < 0.05). A one-unit increase in NO leads to a 0.040-unit increase in the logarithm of the number of patient visits (p < 0.05). According to factor analysis, as the levels of NO, NOx, PM2.5, NO₂, and PM10 in the air increase, the number of patient visits also increases; however, as the level of SO₂ increases, the number of patient visits decreases. Conclusions: Families should be informed about environmental exposures for disease management of children with asthma. The confounding factors may also play a role in SO₂ level and the decrease in admissions due to asthma. Further studies are needed in this regard.

Background and Objectives: Parental beliefs strongly influence treatment adherence in pediatric allergic diseases. Concerns about corticosteroid therapy—known as corticophobia—may disrupt disease control and compromise child well-being. This study aimed to evaluate parental knowledge, beliefs, and concerns regarding topical, inhaled, and intranasal corticosteroid use in children, and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with corticophobia. Materials and Methods: This prospective survey was conducted in a tertiary pediatric allergy and immunology clinic. A structured questionnaire was anonymously completed by 110 parents of children receiving corticosteroid therapy. The survey assessed demographics, family history of atopy, corticosteroid use, perceived disease severity, knowledge level, concerns, and sources of information. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied (p < 0.05 significant). Results: The most frequent concerns were growth retardation, hormonal imbalance, and long-term side effects. Corticophobia was significantly more prevalent among university-educated parents (p = 0.043) and those with a family history of atopy (p = 0.017). Despite generally high adherence to prescribed regimens, nearly 60% of parents sought additional information, highlighting the impact of knowledge gaps on health-related parenting practices. Conclusions: Corticophobia remains a common parental concern in pediatric allergy care, with implications for adherence, family decision-making, and child well-being. Addressing misinformation and providing family-centered, tailored educational strategies—particularly for highly educated parents and those with an atopic background—may reduce fears, strengthen trust, and promote sustainable healthy behaviors.

Background and Objectives: We aimed to assess the outcomes of pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrests (IHCAs) and to identify key factors influencing survival. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, single-center study examined the demographic characteristics, symptoms, comorbidities, initial rhythm, duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), lactate levels, and outcomes of pediatric patients with IHCAs and compared these parameters between survivors and non-survivors. Results: A total of 43 patients were included in this study, including 21 boys (48.8%) and 22 girls (51.2%) with a median age of 36 months (range 1–203). CPR was initiated due to pulselessness in 23 patients (53.5%), respiratory arrest in 13 (30.2%), and bradycardia in 7 (16.3%). The first monitored rhythm in the emergency department was asystole in 29 patients (67.4%) and bradycardia in 14 (32.6%). Despite effective CPR, the mortality rate was 65.1% (n = 28). As a prognostic factor, asystole was found to be more common in non-survivors than in survivors (83.1% vs. 40%, p = 0.005). Additionally, lactate levels (16.6 vs. 10.6, p = 0.04) and CPR duration (45 vs. 15 min, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in non-survivors. Conclusions: IHCAs remain a critical concern, with varying outcomes influenced by factors such as initial rhythm, lactate levels, and CPR duration.

Objective: The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between the anxiety levels of children diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 and who are hospitalized and their parents’ levels of depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and perceived social support. Methods: Childhood State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Perceived Social Support Scale were applied. The control group consisted of 56 children hospitalized in the general pediatric service with the diagnosis of acute bronchitis, pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection, and their accompanying parents. Results: Children hospitalized with the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 had significantly higher CSTAI scores and their parents’ BDI and STAI scores. In both groups, there was a positive significant relationship between the anxiety levels of the children and their parents’ depression, hopelessness, and anxiety levels. Conclusion: With the pandemic, mental afflictions were inevitable in children, but studies examining the psychological effects of children and their parents who have been diagnosed with the disease and are hospitalized are limited. The findings of the study show that children hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 and their parents are more psychologically affected. This study can be a pioneer for more comprehensive studies and rehabilitation studies. COVID-19 Tanısı ile Yatan Çocuk Hastaların Kaygı Düzeyleri ile Ebeveynlerinin Depresyon, Umutsuzluk, Kaygı ve Algılanan Sosyal Destek Düzeylerinin İncelenmesi Amaç: Bu çalışmada amaç COVID-19 tanısı ile hastane yatışı yapılmış çocukların kaygı düzeyleri ve ebeveynlerinin depresyon, umutsuzluk, kaygı ve algıladıkları sosyal destek düzeylerini inceleyerek arasındaki ilişkinin açığa çıkarılmasını sağlamaktır. Yöntemler: COVID-19 tanısı ile yatmakta olan 97 çocuğa Çocuk Durumluk-Sürekli Kaygı Envanteri (ÇDSKE) ve yanlarında refakat eden ebeveynlerine Beck Depresyon Envanteri (BDE), Beck Umutsuzluk Ölçeği (BUÖ), Durumluk-Sürekli Kaygı Envanteri (DSKE) ve Çok Boyutlu Algılanan Sosyal Destek Ölçeği (ÇBASDÖ) uygulanmıştır. Kontrol grubunu ise genel pediatri servisinde akut bronşit, pnömoni, alt solunum yolu enfeksiyonu tanılarıyla yatan 56 çocuk ve refakat eden ebeveynleri oluşturmuştur. Bulgular: COVID-19 tanısı ile yatan çocuklarda ÇDSKE puanları, ebeveynlerinde ise BDE, DSKE puanları anlamlı derecede yüksektir. Her iki grupta da çocukların kaygı düzeyleri ile ebeveynlerinin depresyon, umutsuzluk ve kaygı düzeyleri arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı ilişki mevcuttur. Sonuç: Pandemi ile birlikte çocuklarda da ruhsal etkilenmeler kaçınılmaz olmuştur ancak hastalığa yakalanan ve hastane yatışı olan çocuk ve ebeveynlerindeki ruhsal etkilenmeyi inceleyen çalışmalar sınırlıdır. Çalışmanın bulguları COVID-19 tanısı ile hastanede yatan çocuklarda ve ebeveynlerinde daha fazla ruhsal etkilenme olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu çalışma yapılacak daha kapsamlı çalışmalar ve rehabilitasyon çalışmaları için öncü niteliğinde olabilir. Cite this article as: Söğütlü Y, Söğütlü L. Investigation of anxiety levels of inpatients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 and depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and perceived social support levels of their parents. Neuropsychiatr Invest. 2021;59(3):70-75.