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.

Astma je najčešća kronična bolest djece. U liječenju astme važno je prepoznati pridružene bolesti/stanja koja mogu utjecati na kontrolu astme, posebice ako se radi o teško lječivoj ili teškoj astmi. Anksioznost je jedno od takvih pridruženih stanja k...

Background/Objectives: The prevalence of allergic diseases has markedly increased in developed countries, with environmental and dietary factors considered important contributors. Folic acid is an essential micronutrient involved in one-carbon metabolism and DNA methylation, playing a key role in epigenetic regulation of immune function. Both high and low folate exposure have been associated with allergic outcomes, but the data on postnatal folate status in paediatric populations remain limited. This study aimed at assessing serum folate status in children with atopic diseases compared with children without chronic allergic disease in Croatia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 292 paediatric patients from the University Hospital in Split and a paediatric primary care practice between January 2024 and January 2025. Serum folic acid concentrations were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Additional laboratory parameters included vitamin B12, total IgE levels, and eosinophil counts. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from medical records. Statistical analyses included Chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, linear regression modelling, and analysis of covariance with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Folic acid deficiency was present in 66.4% of all participants. Children with atopic diseases were significantly more likely to have folate deficiency and had lower mean serum folate concentrations compared to children without allergic disease. There were no significant differences in folate levels between children with and without asthma. Lower folate levels were associated with higher IgE levels, higher eosinophil counts, and older age. When controlling for the effects of age on folic acid levels, the differences between participants with and without atopic diseases remained significant. Conclusions: Folic acid deficiency is highly prevalent among children in the Mediterranean region of Croatia and is significantly associated with atopic diseases and markers of allergic inflammation. These findings highlight a potential role of folate status in paediatric allergic disease and support the need for longitudinal studies to clarify causality and potential clinical implications.

Astma je kronična upalna bolest koja se klinički očituje reverzibilnom bronhalnom opstrukcijom. Kašalj i piskanje (engl. wheezing) su učestali simptomi u dječjoj dobi, ali ne označavaju uvijek tešku bolest. Iako je astma najčešći uzrok kašlja, teškog...

Inborn errors of immunity represent a heterogeneous group of monogenic hereditary disorders resulting from impaired development or function of the immune system. Although rare as individual entities, their cumulative prevalence is estimated at 1:1,000 to 1:5,000. Clinically, these conditions are characterized by severe, recurrent, and antibiotic-resistant infections, frequently involving opportunistic pathogens. The incidence and spectrum of such infections are influenced by exposure to pathogens, which is shaped by factors such as universal vaccination programs and global health events, including the recent coronavirus disease pandemic. Beyond infectious complications, affected individuals frequently present with non-infectious manifestations, such as autoimmune, autoinflammatory, allergic, and malignant disorders, therefore broadening the clinical phenotype. Recognition of warning signs of inborn errors of the immune system is essential for pediatric healthcare providers, who are often the first to initiate immunological evaluation. Upon establishing clinical and laboratory suspicion, timely referral to tertiary centers is warranted. Early diagnosis and targeted intervention significantly reduce morbidity and complications and improve treatment outcomes in patients with congenital immunodeficiencies.