[Diseases and health problems among children in Greenland. An epidemiological study based on referrals to special pediatric care in eight different districts of Greenland 1992-94].

Epilepsy and asthma, especially non-severe asthmatic bronchitis, were the most frequent genuinely paediatric diagnoses among children referred to paediatric specialist examination. Atopic dermatitis was a substantial problem. A number of patients were probably suffering from sequelae of diseases, which can be prevented or treated. Among potential etiological factors may be mentioned perinatal asphyxia, infections, and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia including kernicterus. Postneonatally meningitis may be mentioned. Cerebral palsy and epilepsy were possible sequelae. Otitis media cannot be considered as genuine paediatric diseases, but nevertheless this was the most frequent diagnosis among children referred to paediatric examination. A few cases of rare diseases were seen, among these some specifically Greenlandic diseases, for instance familial Greenlandic cholestasis and familial hypoplasia of the adrenal cortex. Other health problems than diseases (Z-diagnoses) represented 24% of diagnoses made, among these fear of disease.