The article is devoted to the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the skin of babies and new options for gentle care. Some results of preclinical and clinical studies of skin care with Realba® oat extract are demonstrated.

Premature infants are referred to the specific risk group for developing iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Depending on the time of occurrence and pathogenetic mechanisms, anemia in premature infants is classified into several types among which only late anemia is characterized by iron deficiency. The article tells about the causes and development mechanisms of IDA in premature infants, as well as the methods of prevention and treatment. The focus is on the prevention of late anemia in premature babies through administration of iron preparations.

Vitamin sufficiency in children can be estimated by the different values of their consumption in autumn-winter and spring-summer seasons. The paper presents the results of a study assessing the prevalence of vitamin deficiency among children of various ages depending on the season. The study included children and adolescents aged from 3 to 14 years (n = 2587, 51% boys) in various regions of Russia. As a result, significant seasonal differences were found in vitamin sufficiency in children aged 3–14 years. Analysis of clusters of parameter interactions demonstrated a relationship between seasonal differences in sufficiency of vitamins B6, E, A, B2 and the risk of various pathologies in all age groups of children. Finally, the presence of seasonal variations in vitamin sufficiency in children was confirmed. This should be taken into account when prescribing vitamin and mineral complexes to children.

The article describes the methods used for evaluating the basic somatometric child growth parameters - body length and weight. Factors affecting nutritional status of children and adolescents are discussed. The WHO unified standards and percentile tables used for the assessment of individual anthropometric parameters are presented. The criteria and main causes of the disorders of growth (dwarfism, gigantism) and weight (underweight, overweight, obese) are described.

Rotavirus (RV) infection (RVI) which causes acute gastroenteritis (RVGE) is among the most common infectious diseases in children in both developing and developed countries. Before the name RV was invented, the disease was designated as “toxic dyspepsia”, “our cholera” - “cholera nostra”. According to the WHO, in 2008 RV caused 453 thousand children’s deaths worldwide, mostly in the developing countries; RV mortality is 80 per 100 thousand. Annually, at least 2 million children are admitted to hospitals with RVGE; according to data from 35 countries, RV causes 40% (34–45%) of all diarrhea [1].

Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation №335 of 29.11.1995 “On the use of the homeopathic method in practical public health” landmarked the official recognition of homeopathy and became the legal basis for the integration of homeopathy in the existing treatment system. The order allows the method to be used by physicians of various specialties after a special training and approves the regulatory documents, the list of homeopathic medicines authorized for use and dispensing rules for homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy is an adjusting therapy which aims to impact self-regulation processes with medications chosen strictly individually and taking into account the patient’s reaction.

Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) occupy a special place in pediatric practice. This is due to several factors including high incidence, increased morbidity, frequently severe course and risk of complications especially in children with premorbidities, as well as a significant economic and social burden [1]. It should be specifically noted that ARVI in children is the main reason for seeking medical care on an outpatient basis, accounting for more than 90% of all doctor visits during the epidemic outbreak of the disease [2].

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) maintain their prevalence in paediatric pathology of all ages accounting for up to 66% in the overall morbidity. [1] The primary goals of treatment are elimination of viral and/or bacterialinfection, decreasing inflammation, liquefying sputum and facilitating its discharge, restoring mucociliary clearance, stimulating regeneration of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, and eradication of inflammation in the pharyngeal lymphoid tissue ring.

Jaundice is one of the most common symptoms of the neonatal period which in most cases is not associated with a serious illness. For example, jaundice in healthy newborns which does not affect the child's development. Nevertheless, in 2% of cases the causes of jaundice should be investigated, especially if it is long-term and extends beyond the neonatal period. Underestimating the history and late examination lead to diagnostic errors which sometimes cannot be corrected. The risk of direct hyperbilirubinemia should be taken into account which may be caused by malformations of the biliary tract development or other congenital and acquired diseases of the hepatobiliary system, for the treatment of which cholagogues can be successfully used. The prognosis for the biliary tract anomalies is directly related to the promptness of diagnosis and surgery. Understanding the difference between direct and indirect hyperbilirubinemia in infants is necessary for timely examination and treatment of the infant.

In recent years, chronic constipation has become one of the key challenges in pediatric gastroenterology. Motility disorders in children are often functional; there are mixed (cologenic and proctogenic) and proctogenic disorders. Treatment of constipation in children should be comprehensive. If non-pharmacological treatments fail, medications are used. Therapy of proctogenic and mixed constipation should imply softening of the stool and facilitating evacuation. The first aim is achieved through the use of laxatives (osmotic laxatives). Administration of glycerol suppositories in combination with osmotic laxatives facilitates evacuation and helps to overcome fear of defecation.

The article is a review of literature on the specific immunopathogenesis of rotavirus infection in children, as well as current treatment approaches. A clinical case is described demonstrating the effectiveness of the combined antiviral, release active drug Ergoferon. The results obtained in the course of the experimental and clinical studies of Ergoferon and its active components are confirmed by own experience and indicate the possibility of widespread use of the drug in the treatment of rotavirus infection in children as young as 6 months. The clinical efficacy of Ergoferon is explained by its three-component composition - affinity purified antibodies to interferon-gamma, histamine and CD4 in release active form, and a unique mechanism of action that affects the key immunopathogenetic links: the functional condition of CD4+T cells and the interferon synthesis. The antiviral activity of Ergoferon is supplemented by anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effects, thus ensuring a rapid relief of fever, dyspepsia and intoxication associated with rotavirus infection as early as on the 2nd-3rd day of therapy. Ergoferon is effective even if the therapy is started on the second day, while its high safety minimizes the risk of hyperstimulation of the immune system with its subsequent hyporesponsiveness.

The article tells about the main aspects of differential diagnosis and therapy for diarrheal syndrome. The main components of treatment and indications for antimicrobials in acute intestinal infections are considered. Results of the studies confirm efficacy and safety of nifuroxazide.

The article tells about the epidemiology, etiology and pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. The focus is on the treatment of allergic rhinitis, the leading role of topical corticosteroids in the treatment of rhinitis, and the specific use of budesonide.

Influenza vaccination is the most strategically justifiable way to protect against influenza which allows toprevent influenza infection and its serious complications, as well as mitigate the impact of influenza epidemics. The main challenge in the fight against influenza is that influenza vaccine needs to be renewed annually due to year-to-year variability of influenza viruses. In recent years, the idea of a single vaccine against all A subtypes of the influenza virus has been actively studied.

The article presents the results of own study of clinical efficacy of myrtol standardized in the treatment of relapses of acute rhinosinusitis in children. The study included patients with acute rhinosinusitis confirmed clinically and instrumentally. The comparative open study using clinical, laboratory, biochemical, immunological and statistical methods was conducted in January – March and September – November 2015. 73 patients (mean age – 9,5 ± 3) were examined and treated. In group 1 (nasal irrigation by Proetz), improvement in patients according to the VAS was achieved on day 4 of disease. In group 2 (receiving GeloMyrtol®), improvement was observed on day 3 of disease. The period of recovery in group 1 was more than 8 days, in group 2 – less than 6–7 days.

We present observation of two patients with congenital hypothyroidism. Importance of neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism is demonstrated.The main principles of diagnostics, therapy and dispensary supervision, role of pediatricians in observation of patients with congenital hypothyroidism are described.

In 90% of children congenital cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) proceeds latently. However, there is a high risk of developing severe clinical manifestations in the postnatal period. Since recombinant interferon drugs successfully used in obstetric practice for the prevention of vertical transmission of cytomegalovirus, we studied their effectiveness in the treatment of children with congenital CMV infection. Against the background of a prolonged regimen experienced rapid resolution of symptoms and the disappearance of an active CMV infection in the blood markers. During the clinical supervision of clinical episodes of reactivation of CMV infection in any of the observed child is not mentioned.

Palpable abdominal masses in children urgently hospitalized with acute abdominal pain require a hands-on diagnostic and treatment approach. The clinical observations of children operated for ovarian torsion and localized appendicular peritonitis demonstrate objective difficulties of ultrasound evaluation of the abdominal cavity in complicated forms of the diseases, the effectiveness of laparoscopy for diagnosis and determination of the adeqaute scope of surgical intervention. The article is supplemented with the results of radiological studies, laparoscopy, and a brief review of the literature.

Fever in children is one of the most common symptoms of a disease. This is due to the fact that fever is a defensive reaction of the organism which occurs as response to pyrogenic stimuli. Availability of fever-lowering drugs leads to uncontrolled use, overdose, complications and side effects. Pediatrician’s task is to determine a rational approach to the management of children with fever and justified prescription of antipyretic drugs, given the possibility of monotherapy and combined medications.

Most often, children receive medical care in outpatient settings where the heaviest burden is carried by district pediatrician or general practitioner. Within the framework of healthcare initiatives aimed at the system optimization, the role of primary care specialists is increasing, while more than 80% of pediatric patients who seek medical aid have infectious pathology. We are trying to analyze which pathology that requires administration of antimicrobial drugs is most frequently faced by district pediatricians.

At present, an increasing number of researchers are turning their attention to various exanthemas. The article provides a brief literature review of the current concepts of parvovirus B19 infection in children, and personal observations of district paediatricians in a municipal children's clinic. Based on the obtained findings, practical recommendations for pediatricians and general practitioners are offered.

The article tells about the use of blood glucose meters for patients with diabetes, results of a survey of patients about the most important characteristics of new blood glucose meters. The advantages of the new glucose meter Contour Plus in pediatric practice including compliance with the new accuracy standard for measuring blood glucose ISO 15197:2013 and the possibility of reapplying blood drop if the test strip is underfilled, are discussed.

In order to predict the outcomes of care of children with cancer and hematological diseases in the intensive care unit (ICU) were studied in dynamics for 7 days before the end of stay in the ICU performance of laboratory tests in 45 children with poor and 38 children with a favorable outcome. Children with poor outcome revealed violations of the acid-base balance, haematological, hepatic and renal dysfunction. Identify a set of informative laboratory indices to predict the outcome in children with cancer and hematological diseases. The sensitivity of the combined laboratory parameters measured during the last 7 days of stay in the ICU, was 89% (81–94%), specificity of 97% (92–99%).

One of the highest risk factors for bronchial asthma (BA) in children is atopic dermatitis (AD). In this regard, current research is aimed at identifying additional predictors of asthma in the population of patients with AD. Aim: to develop a mathematical model for predicting the risk of BA in children with AD. Material and methods: 315 children aged 0 to 18 years were examined, of which 138 with AD and no BA and 177 with AD and BA. Logistic regression method was used for the development of the mathematical model. Results: based on the obtained data, logistic regression equation with 7 predictors was chosen (age; intrauterine infection; pneumonia, acute obstructive bronchitis and chronic adenoids over the age of two; allergic diseases of the father and mother’s relatives) the statistical significance of which was within 5% Wald test.

The key factor for the effective treatment of infectious diseases is timely causal treatment [1, 2]. However, due to various reasons, the arsenal of etiotropic drugs for the treatment of congenital infections (CIs) has been significantly small [3–6]. At the same time, in the treatment of bacterial CIs (congenital syphilis, congenital listeriosis, congenital Streptococcus agalactiae infection, congenital chlamydiosis, congenital ureaplasmosis, congenitan mycoplasmosis and other), only some of the effective antibiotics are not safe enough for use in newborns. What is more, until recently, there were practically no etiotropic therapies except Aciclovir for the treatment of viral CIs [2–6]. In view of the fact that cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) is the most common viral CI (in the US, it is diagnosed in 1% of all live births), the absence of etiotropic therapies has been particularly critical for the management of congenital CMV infection [2].