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: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2002
• Subjects: Research; Ari; Greenland; Sisimiut; inuit
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2738482; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12023914; https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0806.010321

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.