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Portrait of Outpatient Visits and Hospitalizations for Acute Infections in Nunavik Preschool Children

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Abstract

Objective

Inuit children from around the world are burdened by a high rate of infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence rate of infections in Inuit preschool children from Nunavik (Northern Québec).

Methods

The medical chart of 354 children from a previously recruited cohort was reviewed for the first five years of life. All outpatient visits that led to a diagnosis of acute infection and all admissions for acute infections were recorded.

Results

Rates of outpatient visits for acute otitis media (AOM) were 2314, 2300, and 732 events/1000 child-years for children 0–11 months, 12–23 months, and 2–4 years, respectively. Rates of outpatient visits for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) were 1385, 930, and 328 events/1000 child-years, respectively. Rates of hospitalization for pneumonia were 198, 119, and 31 events/1000 child-years, respectively.

Conclusion

Inuit children from Nunavik have high rates of AOM and LRTI. Such rates were higher than that of other non-native North-American populations previously published. Admission for LRTI is up to 10 times more frequent in Nunavik compared to other Canadian populations.

Résumé

Objectif

Les enfants inuits de la plupart des pays nordiques ont un taux élevé de maladies infectieuses. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer le taux de fréquence des infections aiguës chez les enfants inuits du Nunavik d’âge préscolaire.

Méthode

Les dossiers médicaux de 354 enfants ont été revus pour une période couvrant les cinq premières années de vie. Toutes les consultations médicales conduisant à un diagnostic d’infection aiguë et toutes les hospitalisations pour infection aiguë ont été notées.

Résultats

Les taux d’otite moyenne aiguë étaient de 2 314, 2 300 et 732 pour 1 000 enfantsannées pour les enfants âgés de 0 à 11 mois, de 12 à 23 mois et de 2 à 4 ans, respectivement. Les taux d’infection des voies respiratoires inférieures étaient de 1 385, 930 et 328 pour 1 000 enfantsannées, respectivement. Les taux d’hospitalisation pour pneumonie étaient de 198, 119 et 31 pour 1 000 enfants-années, respectivement.

Conclusion

Les résultats montrent que les enfants inuits du Nunavik avaient des taux élevés d’otite moyenne et d’infection des voies respiratoires inférieures. Ces taux étaient supérieurs à ceux d’autres populations nord-américaines publiés par d’autres auteurs. Comparativement à d’autres populations canadiennes, les hospitalisations étaient presque 10 fois plus fréquentes au Nunavik.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Canada

    Frédéric Dallaire MD, PhD,  Eric Dewailly MD, PhD, Carole Vézina BSc, MSc student, Suzanne Bruneau MSc, PhD student & Pierre Ayotte PhD

Authors
  1. Frédéric Dallaire MD, PhD
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  2. Eric Dewailly MD, PhD
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  3. Carole Vézina BSc, MSc student
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  4. Suzanne Bruneau MSc, PhD student
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  5. Pierre Ayotte PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric Dewailly MD, PhD.

Additional information

Source of Support: Department of Indian and Northern Affairs of Canada (Northern Contaminants Program)

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Dallaire, F., Dewailly, E., Vézina, C. et al. Portrait of Outpatient Visits and Hospitalizations for Acute Infections in Nunavik Preschool Children. Can J Public Health 97, 362–368 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405343

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405343

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