Pediatric Reports

Background: Procedural pain and anxiety are common phenomena among children hospitalized in pediatric wards; however, they are often under-recognized. These experiences frequently accompany patients during various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Assessing pain is particularly challenging in pediatric care, as children may have difficulty clearly expressing their pain experiences, which can result in the underestimation of their symptoms. Accurate assessment using an appropriately selected scale should be regarded as an essential component of high-quality healthcare. Methods: This narrative review summarizes standardized tools for assessing procedural pain and anxiety in pediatric patients, focusing on instruments adapted to different ages and cognitive abilities and on their applicability in everyday clinical practice. Results: Numerous standardized scales are available, ranging from behavioral to numerical instruments tailored to specific developmental stages. Despite this, the implementation of these tools in routine care remains inconsistent, largely due to organizational, educational, and communication barriers among healthcare professionals. Conclusions: Medical staff must not only receive adequate training but also exhibit the motivation and readiness to utilize available pain assessment methods. Education and increased awareness among staff regarding pain and procedural anxiety are crucial for improving patient comfort and safety.

Background/Objectives: This study evaluates a media prevention program conducted in elementary schools. Methods: A one-week media program, carried out with fourth graders in Leipzig, Germany, was evaluated using a non-randomized controlled cluster design. Program participants (experimental group (EG), n = 84 children, 41 parents) and non-participants (control group (CG), n = 19 children, 14 parents) completed questionnaires before the media program (t1), directly after the program (t2, EG only), and 3 months later (t3). The child questionnaire assessed media use frequency, rules at home, perceived and objective media-knowledge, and awareness of dangers on the Internet. The parent questionnaire assessed media-related topics discussed with their children and parents’ confidence regarding media education. Results: In the EG, children’s perceived and objective knowledge and their awareness of dangers on the Internet increased significantly between t1 and t2 and remained stable until t3, while no changes were observed in the CG. The number of children reporting that there exist rules on social media use also increased significantly in the EG but not in the CG. The amount of media-related topics discussed within the family and parents’ confidence regarding media education increased significantly from t1 to t3 in both EG and CG. Children’s media use frequency did not change across time, neither in the EG nor in the CG. Conclusions: Media prevention programs at school can have positive effects on children’s knowledge and awareness of dangers on the Internet and might improve parents’ confidence in and the realization of media education at home.

Τargeted genetic sequencing in a 6-year-old with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and biopsy findings of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) revealed a novel COL4A3 pathogenic variant (p.Arg341His). Combined with electron microscopy findings of glomerular basement membrane abnormality, this led to a diagnosis of type IV collagen-related nephropathy. This case underscores the benefit of early genetic testing in presumed FSGS for prognosis and avoiding unnecessary immunosuppression in pediatric nephrotic syndrome.