[Chronic diseases among and social benefits to four-to-five-year-old children]

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic diseases among four-to-five-year-old children in a Norwegian county in order to identify significant prognostic factors and to investigate the use of social benefits.

In the context of ordinary medical examinations in a Norwegian county, a questionnaire was given to 2430 parents, of whom 1913 (79%) responded. Children with chronic disease and with frequent episodes of disease were selected for further examination. Of the 391 children selected, 263 (69%) attended. The parents answered questions about diagnosis, prognosis, marital status, parents' health, use of social benefits, and the development of the disease.

Almost half of the 263 children who met for further examination had airway diseases, nearly all of them asthma. Of the remaining, 17% had congenital malformations, 13% had neurological development disorders, 10% had skin and joint diseases, and 12% various conditions including gastrointestinal diseases and hormonal disorders. One third had recovered, one third had diminishing problems, and one third was unchanged or worse. Parents of 15 children born in 1991 who received basic or supplementary benefits stated that the child had recovered or had a diminishing problem. However, 53 children who had a stable or deteriorating condition did not receive any benefits. In 22 of these, the parents stated that their child's general functioning was significantly affected. It is possible that they would have met criteria for supplementary and/or basic benefits.

The results suggest that in 1996, 13% of four-to-five-year-old children in this county had a chronic disease. This finding is in line with other studies. Overuse and, more frequently, underuse of social benefits for these children was disclosed.