More people are given the diseases of childhood and inflammatory bowel disease in Northern Norway, compared to in southern Norway, writes research.no. -Children in Northern Norway are at higher risk of developing childhood riders compare with children born in southern Norway, says physician and doctoral fellow at Oslo University Hospital, Sigrid Hestetun. She has looked at the occurrence of children’s dyeers in all children born in Norway between 2004 and 2019. Sigrid Hestetund Opphotia Fellow Sigrid Hestetun recently published a study showing that more people get childish in the north, compared to southern Norway. The study, which was published in the fall, states that the incidence gradually became more frequent the further north in the country one came. But why this is so, the researchers have no clear answer to. Rare diseases-Children’s duty is twice as common in Northern Norway compared to farthest south of the country, ie Rogaland and Agder counties, Ketil Størdal told news. He is a pediatrician and professor of childhood diseases at the University of Oslo. Some of the same pattern is seen for inflammatory bowel disease. The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease is almost twice as high in Northern Norway as in southern Norway, according to the professor. Both diseases are autoimmune diseases. – That is, the body’s own immune system in a way is wrong and makes inflammation in the body’s own cells, he explains. Ketil Størdaletil Størdal is a pediatrician and professor of childhood diseases at the University of Oslo. As a pediatrician, he works mostly with stomach and tram disorders in children. The diseases are rare. According to Størdal, approximately 150 children get childish duty in Norway every year. For inflammatory bowel disease, there are around 200 new cases among children under 18, according to the professor. Went many years without diagnosis Marie Dahlskjær from Bodø was diagnosed with childhood darling when she was 12 years old. Then she had struggled with great pain, difficulty moving, and unexplained fatigue throughout her childhood. – I had a lot of pain in my neck, couldn’t wear a school bag and carry books and was very tired. Failed to go so much yourself and had ankles and knees. It started with ankles and knees on me in the joints, says Dahlskjær. The 30-year-old notices that she is chronically ill in her everyday life, and must at times set aside time to rest. She gets intravenous medicine every six weeks, which helps to slow down the disease. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news In addition to childhood, she also had several other chronic illnesses. As she approached her 12-year-old, she became acutely ill. – Then I was so bad that I couldn’t move at all. I couldn’t care for myself, eat, shower, dress up, brush my teeth or get out of bed. It was a pure pain hell, if you can say so, says Dahlskjær. She had to get help from her parents to the most and they had to be home with her with care money. She says the family still today is one of her most important supporters who helps her in everyday life. After several rounds in and out of hospitals, GP and emergency room, she was finally diagnosed with childhood arthritis at the Nordland Hospital. She was referred to the National Hospital in Oslo. There she was also diagnosed with scleroderma. Dahlskjær’s arthritis has given her so many inflammation in the joints, both large and small, that she has had to operate several times and that some of the joints today are broken. She thinks it is good that scientists will now find out more about the disease. – Children’s duty is a disease that must be treated with medication, as a rule, and the faster the diagnosis is made, and you get started with either chemotherapy or biological medicine, you can slow down the disease activity quite quickly. – Therefore, it is very important and positive that more research is being done on exactly children’s ridicules, and that those who are bothered with various musculoskeletal disorders in childhood and adolescence are taken seriously, are diagnosed and start with medicines and treatments as quickly as possible, says Dahlskjær. Marie has had several chronic illnesses from early childhood. Today, she is passionate about helping others who are in the same situation as her, including as deputy chair of the User Committee at Nordland Hospital, and centrally in young people with disabilities. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news does not know the reason the researchers have used data from the Norwegian Patient Register in the studies. – Then we have looked at the occurrence of the two diseases of children and adolescents living in different parts of Norway, says Ketil Størdal. In the study of childhood arthritis, they have divided Norway into three parts. South, middle and north. In the study of inflammatory bowel disease, Norway was divided into four. In the south of the country, the incidence of the two diseases has been low, while gradually increasing from central Norway and northwards. – The findings are quite clear. So there are quite sure signs that there are differences after geography, says Størdal. Why it is so is a mystery. – That’s the big question, and there are things we work with and try to find out. Now they will investigate several factors. Genetics, vitamin D measurements, possible pollutants and satellite data are used. Data from the Norwegian mother, father and child survey can also provide answers. One possible theory is less access to vitamin D due to darkness in the north of the country. -We don’t really think vitamin D can explain some things. In any case, there does not appear to be related to vitamin D in pregnancy and the first couple of years of life, he says. Forskning.no writes that the same research team is now investigating whether mother’s intake of fish during pregnancy may have an impact on the development of arthritis. According to a new study, children with a mother who has eaten more than 250 grams have lean or half -fat fish a week, higher risk of getting baby duty, they write. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB – Must look more also environmental factors are investigated. – Whether you live in an area with a lot of buildings and concrete and asphalt, or if you live in an area with a lot of nature around you. Such things are important to study properly with satellite data, says Størdal. In addition to other environmental factors such as the use of antibiotics, smoking and socio -economic factors. – But it doesn’t seem to explain the differences we have. So we have to look more, simply, says Størdal. Think environmental factors may be the answer from which genes play a central role in the development of childhood. The researchers do not think it is possible to point to a single explanation, but that several factors play together. Sigrid Hestetun says similar results have been seen for children’s duty in other countries as well. – In general, if you have looked at different countries and what they report on the occurrence, there is a lower incidence in the south of Europe, compared to in the Nordic countries. In her study, she was asked if a higher incidence in indigenous peoples can explain the observed differences. – High incidence of childhood arthritis has been reported in indigenous peoples in other countries. It is possible that Sami origin in children in the north may explain some of the differences, but this is just a thought and not something we can or have investigated, says Hestetun. She hopes they will have more answers eventually. – Some of the hope is to find environmental factors that you can do something about. So that fewer children get this disease, says Hestetun. Published 11.03.2025, at. 22.34
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