Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms as motive for emergency room visits by pediatric patients, describing the major clinical syndromes.
Methods: Study population is composed of children aged 1 month - 16 years who presented at our emergency room with respiratory symptoms, over a 5-year period (from September 2008 to December 2013).
Results: The first year of life age group was most affected by respiratory problems. During the first 4 months of life, male patients represented the larger number of pediatric emergency room visits for respiratory problems. Bronchospasm emerged as the most frequent (36%) respiratory problem.
Conclusions: We describe the epidemiological profile of pediatric patients presenting at an emergency room with respiratory symptoms, finding a high prevalence of access to pediatric emergency room for upper and lower respiratory infections.

Human milk is the most natural and superior food for infants, providing a range of benefits for growth, immunity and development a significant decreasing risk for several acute and chronic diseases. However, breast milk is not pure. Pollutants have been intentionally or inadvertently produced and introduced into the environment. Due to long half-lives and fat solubility, chemicals tend to bio accumulate in long-lived species at the top of the food-chain, including in human milk. Through breastfeeding, a mother may transfer potentially toxic chemicals to the suckling infant, exercising systemic and harmful effects on the health of children. Although scientific evidence indicates that the advantages of breast-feeding outweigh any risks from contaminants, it is important to identify communities with major sources of human exposure, limit the presence of pollutants in the food supply and modify their critical short-and long-term action in children. Furthermore, by controlling the use of these toxic products safe breastfeeding could be ensured and encouraged. This review summarizes what is known about the relationship between environmental pollutants and contamination of human milk.