Disease patterns among Canadian aboriginal children. Study in a remote rural setting.

OBJECTIVE

To describe disease patterns among children in an isolated aboriginal community, and to compare them with patterns found among other aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadian children.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of logbooks and patient charts extracted from nursing station records for all visits to the community's nursing station between April 1, 1990, and March 31, 1991.

SETTING

An isolated aboriginal community located in northwestern Ontario.

PARTICIPANTS

All aboriginal children younger than 5 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Disease-specific incidence per 100 person-years by age, sex, and season.

RESULTS

Upper and lower respiratory tract infections, skin conditions, otitis media, and chickenpox were the leading causes of illness. Except for chickenpox, these illnesses occurred at a significantly higher rate among infants than among children 1 to 4 years old. No important differences were found by sex for any condition, except asthma where boys predominated. Autumn and winter seasonal patterns were most evident for respiratory tract infections. The rate of illness for most conditions was higher than that reported among other aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadian children.

CONCLUSIONS

The illnesses most frequently seen in these children are respiratory tract infections and skin conditions. Etiologic factors are likely to be related to multiple interacting forces (both environmental and genetic) and require further investigation.