Introduction Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral exanthem that predominantly affects infants and young children. It is typically caused by enteroviruses, most frequently Coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus 71. The disease manifests as a self-limiting febrile illness with vesicular lesions on the oral mucosa, hands, feet, and occasionally the buttocks. Although the…
Introduction Definition and Overview Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a non‑enveloped, single‑stranded RNA virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. It is the principal pathogen responsible for lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children worldwide. RSV infection typically manifests during winter months in temperate climates and can lead to bronchiolitis, pneumonia, or exacerbation of…
Introduction Ear infections, particularly acute otitis media (AOM), represent one of the most frequently encountered otolaryngologic conditions in pediatric practice. The condition is characterized by inflammation of the middle ear cavity, frequently accompanied by fluid accumulation and bacterial or viral colonization of the eustachian tube. Historically, the prevalence of AOM in children has been documented…
Introduction Chronic low‑grade inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a broad spectrum of disorders, including atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases. Nutritional modulation of inflammatory pathways has emerged as a promising adjunct to pharmacotherapy, offering a non‑pharmacologic means to attenuate pro‑inflammatory mediators and enhance anti‑inflammatory cytokine production. Historically, anti‑inflammatory dietary…
Introduction Magnesium, a divalent cation of atomic number 12, is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body after calcium, potassium, and sodium. It participates in over 300 enzymatic reactions, including those involved in energy metabolism, protein synthesis, nucleic acid stabilization, and ion transport. Within the central nervous system, magnesium exerts neuromodulatory effects that…
Introduction Definition and Overview Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) represents the most prevalent form of anemia worldwide, arising when iron stores are insufficient to meet the demands of erythropoiesis and other physiological processes. The condition is typified by reduced hemoglobin synthesis, leading to microcytic, hypochromic red blood cells. In the context of diet and nutrition, the…
Introduction Vitamin D, a fat‑soluble secosteroid, functions as a prohormone essential for calcium and phosphorus homeostasis, bone mineralization, and modulation of immune responses. Deficiency of this micronutrient is increasingly recognized as a global public health issue, with prevalence estimates ranging from 20% to 80% in various populations, depending on geographic latitude, skin pigmentation, dietary intake,…
Introduction Definition and Overview The Mediterranean diet is a plant‑based dietary pattern characterized by high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and olive oil; moderate intake of fish and poultry; low consumption of red meat and processed foods; and moderate wine consumption, typically with meals. This dietary model emphasizes the use of extra‑virgin…
Introduction Intermittent fasting (IF) refers to the cyclical alternation between periods of voluntary caloric restriction or complete abstinence from food and periods of ad libitum intake. The core idea is to create a temporal pattern that allows the body to transition between metabolic states, thereby potentially delivering health benefits that extend beyond simple weight loss….
Introduction The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high‑fat, moderate‑protein, low‑carbohydrate nutritional approach that induces a metabolic state of ketosis. In ketosis, hepatic fatty‑acid oxidation predominates, resulting in the production of ketone bodies (β‑hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone) that serve as alternative substrates for peripheral tissues. The diet was originally developed in the 1920s as a therapeutic…