Pediatric otolaryngology

Although there were already colleagues who had gained experience in the field of pediatric ENT care at the beginning of the 20th century, the real development and wide-ranging independence of the profession took place in the last 20-30 years. During this period, pediatric laryngotracheal reconstruction and a wide range of implantable hearing aids showed unprecedented development, including, of course, the spread and generalization of cochlear implantation. The diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders, swallowing and sleep disorders gained new momentum. The clarification of the genetic background of developmental disorders, the integration of plastic surgery methods, and the generalization of endoscopic techniques also fall into this period. Allied professions such as neurology, oral surgery, anesthesiology, imaging and laboratory diagnostics, dermatology, psychology, speech therapy and audiology, and phoniatrics have also undergone enormous development, and this has also been reflected in the joint patient care of pediatric otolaryngology. The last time a comprehensive textbook for medical students, medical candidates, and specialists was published by the Hungarian author Dezső Kollár was published exactly 40 years ago. The changes described above and the exponential development made it necessary for the profession to come together and once again publish a modern, easy-to-use, comprehensive textbook. The editors and authors trust that they will release such a work for interested readers. Gábor Katona, Jenő Hirschberg