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Pathogens
Special Issues
Infectious Diseases in Pediatric Populations: Clinical Challenges and Emerging Perspectives
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Infectious Diseases in Pediatric Populations: Clinical Challenges and Emerging Perspectives

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 1564

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Piero Pavone

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Guest Editor
Unit of Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, AOU Policlinico, PO G. Rodolico, Via S. Sofia, 78, 95124 Catania, Italy
Interests: paediatric infectious diseases; paediatric neurology; neonatology; paediatric pharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Roberta Leonardi

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Guest Editor
1. Postgraduate Training Programme in Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
2. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, AOU Policlinico G. Rodolico San Marco, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: paediatric infectious diseases; paediatric neurology; neonatology; paediatric pharmacology
Dr. Manuela Lo Bianco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, AOU Policlinico, PO G. Rodolico, Via S. Sofia, 78, 95124 Catania, Italy
Interests: paediatric infectious diseases; paediatric neurology; neonatology; paediatric pharmacology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Infectious diseases remain a major global health concern in pediatric populations, especially in infants and young children with developing immune systems. While clinical manifestations, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic strategies are continuously evolving, there is increasing interest in understanding the molecular and immunological dynamics of infections in children, as well as the potential long-term consequences, including post-infectious syndromes and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

This Special Issue of Pathogens aims to bring together original research and reviews that focus on infectious diseases in neonates, infants, and children, with a particular emphasis on the following topics:

  • Clinical presentations, diagnosis, and treatment of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections;
  • Host–pathogen interactions and the role of the developing immune system;
  • Molecular and cellular mechanisms driving infection progression or resolution;
  • Emerging pathogens and changing patterns of pathogen transmission in pediatric cohorts;
  • Post-infectious complications, including post-COVID-19 syndromes, post-infectious autoimmune phenomena, chronic inflammation, and neurodevelopmental impairments.

We especially encourage contributions that explore the pathogen-induced modulation of immune responses, cellular signaling, and host adaptation in pediatric hosts, as well as those that provide insight into vaccine development, preventive strategies, clinical presentations, and diagnosis, and long-term follow-up studies on children affected by infectious diseases.

Both experimental and clinical studies are welcome, as well as case series, systematic reviews, and conceptual articles offering new hypotheses and future directions. This Special Issue will offer a multidisciplinary platform to deepen our understanding of pediatric infections and promote more precise, age-appropriate interventions.

Dr. Piero Pavone
Dr. Roberta Leonardi
Dr. Manuela Lo Bianco
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pediatric infectious diseases and immune responses
  • post-infectious syndromes
  • diagnosis and treatment of pediatric infectious diseases
  • pediatric microbiome
  • viral, fungal, and bacterial infections in children

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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23 pages, 4778 KB  
Systematic Review
Clinical Presentation, Management and Outcome of Cerebral Echinococcosis in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Roberta Leonardi, Alessandra Curatolo, Manuela Lo Bianco, Alessia Migliore, Grete Francesca Privitera, Alfredo Pulvirenti, Giuseppe Nunnari, Andrea Marino, Serena Spampinato, Antonino Maniaci, Pasqua Betta, Martino Ruggieri, Agata Polizzi and Piero Pavone
Pathogens 2025, 14(11), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14111144 - 11 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Background: Cerebral echinococcosis is a rare, potentially serious parasitic disease in children, that can lead to intracranial hypertension, focal neurological deficits, seizures, and severe complications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on diagnostic, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes in pediatric cerebral echinococcosis. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background: Cerebral echinococcosis is a rare, potentially serious parasitic disease in children, that can lead to intracranial hypertension, focal neurological deficits, seizures, and severe complications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on diagnostic, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes in pediatric cerebral echinococcosis. Methods: A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, selecting English studies on children (0–18 years). Studies describing clinical, imaging, surgical, pharmacological, and outcome data were eligible. Statistical analyses (Fisher’s exact and chi-square tests) were performed in R. Results: A total of 100 studies with 462 pediatric patients met the inclusion criteria. High-resolution imaging has largely replaced invasive diagnostics; MRI-based diagnosis correlated with better outcomes. Headaches, vomiting, papilledema, seizures, and hemiparesis were common. Surgical cysts’ removal remained the main therapy. Additional treatment with albendazole was associated with a higher probability of good outcome (p < 0.001). A greater number of cyst localizations was significantly associated with a worse prognosis (p < 0.001). Overall mortality was 8.9%, while approximately 2/3 of patients achieved a good outcome. Conclusions: Advances in non-invasive imaging, refinement of surgical technique, and targeted antiparasitic therapy improved outcomes. Nevertheless, heterogeneous reporting and the prevailing paucity of evidence limit definitive recommendations. Prospective multicenter studies are needed to refine treatment and develop pediatric-specific guidelines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases in Pediatric Populations: Clinical Challenges and Emerging Perspectives)
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6 pages, 200 KB  
Brief Report
Factors Associated with More Severe Disease in Infants and Children with Pertussis in the Post-Pandemic Era: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
by Antonio Gatto, Danilo Buonsenso, Eleonora Rulli, Mariya Prokopchuk, Giuseppe Zampino, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Michela Sali and Marilena La Sorda
Pathogens 2025, 14(10), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14100969 - 25 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Pertussis remains a potentially severe respiratory illness in pediatric populations, especially in vulnerable groups. A severe outbreak has been reported in the post pandemic era, but it is uncertain if risk factors for severe disease may have changed compared with pre-pandemic years. We [...] Read more.
Pertussis remains a potentially severe respiratory illness in pediatric populations, especially in vulnerable groups. A severe outbreak has been reported in the post pandemic era, but it is uncertain if risk factors for severe disease may have changed compared with pre-pandemic years. We conducted a retrospective analysis of children diagnosed with Bordetella pertussis infection at a single tertiary pediatric center, from January 2023 to May 2024 Clinical and demographic variables were compared between outpatients and hospitalized patients to identify factors associated with disease severity. A total of 71 patients were included. Younger age (p < 0.001), lower body weight, (p = 0.0005) and lack of vaccination (p < 0.00001) were significantly associated with hospitalization. No significant differences were found regarding clinical symptoms, oxygen saturation, fever, or viral co-infection. Conclusion: Unvaccinated status, younger age, and lower weight appear to be key risk factors for hospitalization in pediatric pertussis, underlining the protective role of vaccination and the vulnerability of younger infants. These findings support targeted vaccination efforts and early risk stratification to prevent severe disease in vulnerable infants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases in Pediatric Populations: Clinical Challenges and Emerging Perspectives)
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