Multiplex PCR in Diagnosing Respiratory Tract Infections in Hospitalized Children.

Objectives: To elaborate the utility of multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (multiplex qPCR) for the accurate diagnosis of severe respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in hospitalized children.

Methods: In two separate periods during 2022, 76 respiratory specimens (combined throat/nasopharyngeal swabs) were submitted for multiplex qPCR regarding 26 respiratory pathogens. The specimens were obtained from children with severe RTIs hospitalized in the Institute for Respiratory Diseases in Children, Skopje.

Comparison of Oxidative Stress Levels in Healthy Children and Children with Allergic Rhinitis.

: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Under the influence of exogenous factors - allergens, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released during cellular metabolism. They induce a series of pathological changes in the mucosa.

Sputum Quality Assessment Regarding Sputum Culture for Diagnosing Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children.

Background: The clinical relevance of specimens from the lower airways is often debatable. However, they are most commonly examined for diagnosing lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs).

Aim: This study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of sputum quality assessment about sputum culture for diagnosing LRTIs in children.