Respiratory distress syndrome was the most frequent in children with DD (n=8; 67%) and CP (n=12; 60%). Also congenital pneumonia was most often diagnosed in children with DD (n=8; 67%) and CP (n=10; 50%), whereas less frequently – in

children with PE. BPD was the most frequent in the group of children with CP (n=7; 35%). A congenital heart defects were most frequent in the group of children with CAODS (82%), whereas they did not occur in the groups with PE, DD and ND. A relatively high incidence of respiration distress in the neonatal period in children with CAODS may be associated with the presence of other congenital defects (mainly heart, respiratory and gastrointestinal system). Perinatal pathology was not observed in the group with neuromuscular diseases (Tab. II). Among factors determining the recurrence of respiratory see more tract infections resulting from a neurological condition: muscular hypotonia, weakness of respiratory muscles, adverse drug reactions (some antiepileptic and myorelaxant medicines) were analysed. Muscular hypotonia occurred most often in children with ND (n=5; 95%) and with EP (n=18; 85%); least frequent was in patients with CP. Chest deformation was most often observed in the group with ND (n=4; 66%), least frequent was in the group with DD (n=2; 16%); in the other groups chest deformities

were found in approx. 40% of children. The antiepileptic and Interleukin-3 receptor myorelaxant drugs (mainly benzodiazepines and phenobarbital) were applied Fulvestrant cell line in children in all groups, except for ND, most often in patients with CP and PE (Tab. III). The factors promoting recurrent infections of the lower respiratory tract include:

the body mass deficiency (most severe in the groups with PE; n=17; 74% and CAODS; n=8; 73%), gastroesophageal reflux and hypoproteinemia. GER was most frequently diagnosed in children with DD (n=8; 67%) and with PE (n=11; 48%). A high GER incidence in the first group may be connected with the age range and the existence of physiological reflux and in the patients. Hypoproteinemia was most often observed in the group with PE (n=10; 43%). An important factor responsible for the recurrence of respiratory tract infections is colonization of the airways by pathogenic flora. Such colonization was most often observed in children with neuromuscular diseases, which mainly resulted from a long-term course of the underlying disease and frequent hospitalizations (also in the intensive care units), due to a severe course of infections (Tab. IV). The relapses of lower respiratory tract infections in children with neurological diseases manifested as respiration disorders with dyspnoea. Radiologically confirmed pneumonia was most often diagnosed in children with PE and ND. Dyspnoea was the least frequent in children with CP.