Population-based study of acute respiratory infections in children, Greenland

• Published in: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Authors: Koch, Anders, Sørensen, Per, Homøe, Preben, Mølbak, Kåre, Pedersen, Freddy Karup, Mortensen, Tine, Elberling, Hanne, Eriksen, Anne Mette, Olsen, Ove Rosing, Melbye, Mads
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: Greenland; Sisimiut; Ari; inuit
• Online Access: https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/populationbased-study-of-acute-respiratory-infections-in-children-greenland(8b93e5e5-e4ae-4502-9939-bfdbc6c03c71).html; https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0806.010321; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036102288&partnerID=8YFLogxK

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are frequent in Inuit children, in terms of incidence and severity. A cohort of 294 children < 2 years of age was formed in Sisimiut, a community on the west coast of Greenland, and followed from 1996 to 1998. Data on ARI were collected during weekly visits at home and child-care centers; visits to the community health center were also recorded. The cohort had respiratory symptoms on 41.6% and fever on 4.9% of surveyed days. The incidence of upper and lower respiratory tract infections was 1.6 episodes and 0.9 episodes per 100 days at risk, respectively. Up to 65% of the episodes of ARI caused activity restriction; 40% led to contact with the health center. Compared with studies from other parts of the world, the incidence of ARI appears to be high in Inuit children.