[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]. / Sygdomme og helbredsproblemer hos børn i Grønland. En epidemiologisk undersøgelse baseret på henvisninger til paediatrisk speciallaegeundersøgelse i otte grønlandske distrikter 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.

[The disease panorama of emergency surgery in Maniitsoq 1991-1992. An epidemiological study and an evaluation of surgical results]. / Det akutte kirurgiske sygdomspanorama i Maniitsoq 1991-1992. En epidemiologisk undersøgelse og vurdering af operationsresultater.

In the district of Maniitsoq/Sukkertoppen, Greenland, an investigation was carried out to evaluate the extent of major surgical diseases seen in an epidemiological context. The number of patients submitted to major emergency surgery was 63, of which 61 were operated at the hospital of Sukkertoppen. The three main diagnostic entities were appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy and complicated delivery leading to cesarean section. Operative outcome was described, and the results were evaluated as satisfactory in the light of a very modest amount of per- and postoperative complications. The need for surgical preparedness must be taken into consideration by the authorities responsible for the recruitment of doctors and medical staff for district hospitals in Greenland.