Population-Based Study of Acute Respiratory Infections in Children, Greenland

Abstract

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.

LY96, UPKIB Mutations and TLR4, CD14, MBL Polymorphisms in Children with Urinary Tract Infection

“…Polymorphisms of the gene are relatively common (5-10%) [13]. Low levels of MBL have been reported to be associated with many infectious diseases, including lower respiratory tract infections [14]. A population based study performed in Greenland about MBL polymorphisms in acute respiratory infections revealed that, 75.8% of the children included were homozygous for the normal allele (A/A), 2.4% were homozygous for variant allele (O/O) and 21.8% were heterozygous for variant allele (A/O) [14].…”

Indoor air quality and the risk of lower respiratory tract infections in young Canadian Inuit children

“…3 Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, including pneumonia, is also relatively frequent. 4 Respiratory syncytial virus infection is also unusually severe in this population: 12% of infants admitted to the Baffin Regional Hospital in Iqaluit (Qikiqtaaluk Region's regional hospital) required intubation and mechanical ventilation, necessitating costly and difficult air transport to tertiary care hospitals in southern Canada.…”

Mannose-Binding Lectin Genotypes and Susceptibility to Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in Infancy

“…An open cohort study in the west Greenland community of Sisimiut was carried out from 1996 to 1998 (14,15). Of all children Ͻ2 years of age, 294 (87%) participated and were followed regularly.…”